The Workshop Weekly

068: How to Make an Affiliate Program Successful.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:44:52 +0000

With Rick Magennis

By now most of us are familiar with the concept of affiliate marketing.

It is basically being paid to promote a product or service using your own network and influence. And yes, you do have influence being paid to promote something that you actually like to people who trust your recommendations is a pretty cool gig and many of the programs and products that you already use and love offer affiliate programs.

Rick Magennis has been an affiliate marketing guru for nearly a decade, with most of that time managing affiliate programs for other brands. He believes in growing sales the right way for his clients. And Rick is the president and founder of Bearcat Media Media an affiliate marketing agency. They're all about driving the right results for each client. He has recently run a whole event dedicated to affiliate management best practices for brands called affiliate management Expo.

I am really looking forward to this conversation with Rick today and I think you're about to learn a whole lot about affiliate marketing, whether you are running an affiliate marketing program yourself for your business, or if you're thinking about being an affiliate as an individual. So let's get started.

In this episode, Rick talks about:

How starting out as an affiliate inspired Rick to be the affiliate marketing expert that he is today. 2:04
What is an affiliate marketer and how do you make money being one? 4:31
Basic steps to getting started as an affiliate marketer. 6:58
Protecting your own credibility by - promoting products and services that you actually stand behind. 8:53
Getting started using affiliate marketing in your own business. 11:07
Determining the right amount of commission for referrals. 13:09
Affiliate management software to help you get off the ground and running. 16:14
Affiliate marketing strategy, the do's and don'ts. 21:44
Quality over quantity, finding the best affiliates for the job and setting them up for success. 23:47
The ethics of affiliate marking and how to implement ethical practices. 28:57

I love that we focused on the idea of promoting products that you truly use and love.

Affiliate marketing has gotten a bad rap lately and there are a million examples of people using unethical practices to make a sale. You can tell when someone isn't being sincere in their promotion and it certainly doesn't help build the trust factor... run far away from those folks.

But if you really do love something, earning a nice tip for sharing it is a great way to make a passive income. I know I trust people in my networks for recommendations over cold and undirected advertisements. Start today by making a list of products or services that you already use and see if they currently offer a program that you can join. When it is time to start your own affiliate marketing program in your business, be sure that your affiliates first of all truly love what you're selling. And second of all, and this one is important. You want to double ensure that your affiliates values align with your values. Because remember, they are an extension of you and your brand.

Honesty is the best policy here.

Until next time workshop warrior. Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me today. I just love hanging out. So let's do it again next week. Bye for now.

Connect with Rick:

Website: https://affiliateprogrammanagement.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-magennis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearcatmediaSEO/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearcatmediallc/

Mentioned in this episode

The Rick Magennis Podcast

Affiliate marketing software: ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Shopify, WooCommerce, Affiliatly

What you need to know to start and affiliate program - Blog

A note from our sponsors:

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Cli ck her e for the transcribed version of this podcast.

067: Bro Marketing: The Dark Side of Persuasion.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 12:48:50 +0000

With Shannon Droeske

Ethics and marketing. Sometimes we struggle to reconcile the two especially as we mindlessly scroll.

With the rise of the Internet and the boom of social media as a marketing platform. We are bombarded with messages every single day. These messages and the tactics used to push them can be expertly crafted, and based on psychology to target people in unethical ways, often exploiting vulnerabilities. And I don't know about you, but that doesn't sit well with me.

Today's guest Shannon Droeske, has spent nearly 15 years in the marketing industry, she is on a mission to create a more ethical and inclusive online business culture. And she refuses to engage in tired sales and marketing strategies devised by the good old boys, and is committed to cultivating new paths that raise the standard of what it means to do business as usual.

I am so excited to chat about ethical marketing with Shannon today, you have no idea I need a different word because exciting isn't a good enough word anymore. This topic has swept me off the ground and I could literally talk about it for days.

In this episode, Shannon talks about:

How she came to be a marketing expert and the types of clients she serves. 2:51
What it means to be an ethical marketer, using that power for good, and the psychology behind it. 5:48
The harm of “Bro-marketting”. 10:08
Emotional decision making and how traditional marketing plays on that vulnerability. 11:26
Protecting ourselves from harmful marketing and the role of shame. 15:17
How to sell in a way that's ethical. 20:09
Advice for people as they navigate a toxic self-help industry and the marketing that supports it. 23:00
How to further in understanding marketing and use it for a force of good. 40:21

Take a step back, give yourself a minute, and then connect back to why am I doing this in the first place? Why this product? Why this service? And what's that ripple effect?

Shannon Droeske

I think we can all remember a time when we’ve individually been suckered by unethical marketing techniques...like that pretty dress impulse purchase that graced my scroll and arrived at my doorstep looking absolutely nothing like it did in the cute video of the tanned model twirling and the return shipping cost as much as the dress so I was stuck with a pile of cheap fabric and a garment that looked like a… I won't get into that.. . but, it doesn’t feel good to be on the receiving end of sneaky marketing tactics so why would we use these same techniques in our own businesses?

Our businesses are our greatest tool to create change, and building this change-making machine requires marketing… and that is okay! Ensuring that our marketing efforts are focused on helping people and not just lining pockets will ensure that our message is authentic and truly resonates with people who would buy our products anyway… they just need to know they exist!

It is a beautiful thing to help another human. I think it is safe to say that, if you are listening to this episode, you have a product or service that you can feel good about marketing to the world because you know it will help someone. And I know you’re here because you care more about that than the money anyway. I mean, we live n a capitalist world, so money is great, but the REAL currency in life is the quality of your relationships, in my humble opinion. I would love to know if you agree.

I really love Shannons advice of defining success for yourself, and not what is showing up on your Instagram feed, curated by people who are trying to define success for you. So, pay attention. When you see a fit body, fancy car, handbag or house, in your scroll, I challenge you to dig a little deeper before you decide this is the true picture of success.

In a world where hussle culture is doing more harm than good, Shannon recommends that we take a step back and re-connect to our why. Don’t lose touch with why you started this business of yours in the first place. And remember, your legacy is not your paycheque.

We might have to continue this conversation in a part two, I could talk quite literally about this topic for days.

Connect with Shannon:

Websites: https://shannondroeske.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannondroeske/

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

066: Grow Your People To Grow Your Business.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 13:03:11 +0000

With Amy Lafko

Making the move from a solopreneur to a teampreneur can be daunting and, frankly, a little terrifying. And, If I know you, I know you are probably trying to do all the things by yourself because you think it’s just easier that way.

Maybe you are even listening to this podcast as you juggle five other tasks… no judgement my friend. It’s part of what makes you so amazing.

Well, today's guest, Amy Lafko, is here to offer her best tips and tricks to make the move to hire, and help business owners and leaders dedicate their time where it is most needed. Amy brings the secrets of the People 1st Paradigm to companies everywhere. Working with clients to transform their organisation and their leadership, Amy’s mission is to shift the way owners and leaders view the lifecycle of their employees.

If you are thinking of expanding your human resources or onboarding new talent, this is the episode for you!

In this episode, Amy talks about:

Amy's journey to becoming the Human Resources guru that she is today. 2:21
Why it is important to listen to your team and the risks when you don't. 3:45
How setting up clear expectations will help put you on the path to success and focus your energies. 5:49
The delegation game changer, how to let go of tasks that someone else can handle. 7:35
Being CEO-centric and hiring right, the first time. 10:58
Tools and assessments to make sure you are finding the right fit for your team. 14:56
How to fully step into your CEO 19:31
Interviewing and onboarding new team members and the value of regular check ins. 20:54
Achieving work/life balance while running a successful business. 24:25
Amy's upcoming book and key accountabilities template. 28:10

Please go make your list of everything that you're doing in your business. And then once you've got that laundry list, start paring it down. I want you to look at what do you love doing, what's your zone of genius what takes your talent. And then I want you to start to figure out how do I shed the rest of it, how do I build a team, so that I can do what I do well, and move the rest to other people.

Amy Lafko

The moral of the story is: if you put all the time and attention into your customers while skipping over your staff, you are going to have a bad time.

And, consider this your permission slip to delegate and pass off work that is not within your zone of genius, because doing so will actually help your business!

By being crystal clear with your expectations, you aren’t being unpleasant, you are setting up your potential hire for success. Take advantage of the many tools out there to ensure that you are hiring the best staff for you and your business, because remember, what you are really hiring is an extension of you and your brand.

This episode has inspired me to take Amy up on her advice to make a complete list of everything I do in my own business and start figuring out what else I can outsource so I can focus on what I love to do. I suggest you do it too!

I can’t wait to check her book that comes out this summer

Thank you for joining me for yet another episode. You’re the reason I do it! Bye for now!

Connect with Amy:

Websites: https://cairncs.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.lafko1/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cairn-consulting-solutions/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-lafko/

Mentioned in this episode:

People First: a Proven Method for Exceptional Healthcare Practice

Key Accountabilities Template

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

065: Why You Don’t Need to Outsource Your Social Media Plan.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:00:45 +0000

With Katie Wight

Surveys say that 68% of people do not think that brands share interesting content. Yikes!

Social media has really become an essential platform for businesses to connect with their customers so using it effectively is important, but that doesn’t mean that it is easy. People connect with a brand when it has a personality and our next guest is here to teach us just how to perform our content.

Katie is the founder of KW Content, global content and social media marketing agency that develops and launches content and social media programs for purpose-driven brands. Her newest project is called Strong Brand Social and they provide social media marketing education that empowers small brands to develop their own high-performing marketing programs that are guaranteed to drive growth.

Katie helps to simplify the process and demystify the art of social media marketing to offer focus, efficiency, and measurable results to small business owners, brand directors, and social media marketers. I definitely learned new things during our conversation today and i am sure you will too!

Let’s dig in!

In this episode, Katie talks about:

Katie’s own entrepreneurial journey and her background in marketing. 2:17
Creative marketing and performance marketing... What is the difference and why that matters. 5:27
Why it is important to keep your branding and social strategy in house. 6:42
The difference between connecting with a brand V.S. an individual on social media. 8:54
Examples of brands who personify their social media accounts. 10:25
Tips to bring these strategies into your own business and brand. 12:43
How to discover what customers/clients really want to see from your brand. 17:51
The narrative of your brand, weaving storytelling into your content as a strategy. 21:21
Don't reinvent the wheel, how to recycle your content effectively. 24:25
Get one step closer to being more strategic with your content with these tips. 29:15

Build it, and they will come.

I loved this conversation because it stressed that you really do need to focus on building a community that your audience can visualize themselves in and help them connect with your brand.

Imagining your brand as a single person with a very specific personality allows you to authentically reach your audience and understanding the type of information that your audience is seeking is sure to stop their scroll.

Centering your customer in your brand story is a sure fire way to help them connect with your fabulous offer.

Thank you for making me a part of your day today. It is always such an honour.

Until next week, bye for now.

Connect with Katie:

Websites: https://kwcontent.com/ and https://www.strongbrandsocial.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kwcontent/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwcontent/

Mentioned in this episode:

Glossier on Instagram as a great example!

Are you a growing brand that’s looking to scale? Get Katie's guide on the 7 proven steps we take that work every single time. Visit the website to download!

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

064: The #1 Secret to Relationship-Driven Sales.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 12:35:57 +0000

With D. Nadia Brown

Sometimes, sales can just feel icky. Like, have you ever started a conversation with someone and things were going great and then BAM comes the sales pitch. The rest of the conversation can feel awkward and forced.

Not only does it suck to be on the receiving end of an unwanted sales pitch but it can also be uncomfortable when it comes time for you to make a pitch… gatta pay those bills right?

Today’s guest here is to take the pressure out of sales and build a sales process that converts consistently without feeling salesy. Dr. Nadia Brown is a sales strategist, consultant, trainer, and founder of The Doyenne Agency. She works with business owners, companies, and corporations sales teams using the Consistent Sales Method™ and is the author of the book Selling Like a Lady: Courage Diary book.

She brings over fifteen years of leadership experience helping people achieve their goals while respecting people and our relationships with them. Dr. Nadia’s clients have seen real results and I am so excited to dig into this conversation with her. Because guess what, You can be in business and make money in a way that respects people and your relationships with them. What Dr Nadia has to say might surprise you and in the very least, it will leave you feeling a lot less icky about selling.

Are you ready?

In this episode, Dr. Nadia talks about:

How a love/hate relationship with sales inspired her to find a new way to sell and build her business. 2:30
How we can sell without feeling “icky” about it. 4:59
How to build a sales process that converts consistently. 9:02
What it looks like to nurture somebody who may become your customer in the future and build a pipeline. 11:09
Getting started and scoring your leads. 12:56
Qualifying leads, why quality is better than quantity. 14:52
Dealing with objections and why you don't need to overcome them. 20:59
How to help someone believe your product is worth it and see the value that you offer. 24:03
The number one secret to relationship driven sales. 27:15
Overcoming your fear of "selling". 31:05
Prioritizing activities that promote you offer. 32:48
Dr. Nadia Brown’s book: Selling like a Lady and her fabulous free resource. 34:25

Commit to taking imperfect action, it won't be perfect, just do it. Just take the action.

Dr. Nadia Brown

I feel significantly less icky about sales after this conversation with Dr. Nadia. It really is about building and nurturing a genuine relationship with your customer. It is totally okay that your product or service isn’t for everyone so count those unsubscribes as a blessing that you can now focus your valuable attention on those who get the most value from your offer. Investing in a relationship is never a waste of time.

Most people don’t get married on the first date and I hope this chat with Dr. Nadine helps you feel more confident on your “first date” with a potential customer. Maybe that person will like you so much that they are willing to go on another date, and another, and another… you get the point.

Until next time, Workshop Warrior!

Connect with Dr. Nadia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDrNadia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnadia/

Website: https://thedoyenneagency.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DoyenneLeadership1

Mentioned in this episode:

Courageous Conversations That Convert Checklist

Selling Like a Lady - Dr. Nadia Brown

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

063: This One Thing is Your Real Life Superpower

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 09:59:04 +0000

With Doris Fullgrabe

Do you know your personality type?

The internet is full of personality tests of all types. Knowing your personality type is more than just fun, it can be incredibly useful in your everyday life and business. Understanding why you behave and think the way you do will help you optimize your own productivity and effectiveness.

Today's guest, Doris Fullgrabe, is a Myers-Briggs®Master Practitioner, an accredited coach, and licensed to facilitate a number of other psychological type models. After 10 years in leadership development and preparing expat couples for their international assignments, she now works with individuals, business owners, and couples who want to feel more connected to themselves and each other.

I love personality tests and I can’t wait to dig into this fun and interesting topic with Doris to learn how to make your personality work for you.

In this episode, Doris talks about:

How Doris came to be a Myers-Briggs master practitioner. 2:19
An introduction to personality foundations - what are they and how they can help you as an entrepreneur. 3:53
How understanding your personality type can be used as a tool to help your clients. 6:16
Different personality tests and their scope, why Myers Briggs is different. 8:54
Demystifying personality type acronyms. 14:25
Changes in personality and developing as a well rounded person. 16:54
Societal expectations and how they shape our perceptions of ourselves... and why they are often wrong. 21:45
Digging deeper - Questions that entrepreneurs can ask themselves. 25:01
Outline of Myers-Briggs personality types and key entrepreneurial traits. 34:15
Personality types and trails. 36:24
Recognizing personality based stress triggers and tips on dealing with them. 43:03

You already know what's right for you. Honor your preferences. You're in business for yourself because you want to do it your way. So don't get distracted by how other people do. There's, I think it was Roosevelt who said, comparison is the thief of joy. So go with your energy because life is hard enough right now, do the stuff that you like, Know thyself, love thyself, and the rest is gravy.

Doris Fullgrabe

I have the tab open right now to sign up for Doris’s course and I have her free resource bookmarked. I am totally going to take her up on that discovery call too!

I love how she approaches this topic like your personality is your superpower that can be used to our advantage. Her tips are practical and you can implement them today and see a real difference in your personal and professional life.

Knowing yourself intimately and using that knowledge to leverage your strengths will help you honor your preferences which is the whole reason you became an entrepreneur...right?

I hope that you enjoyed this episode, thank you so much for joining us today, and until next week workshop warriors, let that personality of yours shine so bright you’ll need UV protection. Ok. That was lame. Until next week my friend.

Connect with Doris:

Coaching - www.dorisfullgrabe.com

Couples Premarital Prep - www.yourloveprofiles.com

Mentioned in this episode:

16personalities.com

Personality Type Self Discovery - Find Your Best Fit Pattern

Youtube - Self Discovery Best Fit Mindset

Who Are You at Your Core Quiz

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

062: Transform Your Cash-Eating Business Monster to a Money-Making Machine

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 16:55:31 +0000

With Connie Vanderzanden

Money is always an uncomfortable topic. I mean, people don’t joyously chit chat about taxes and financial planning at the dinner table, right?

I think it is safe to say that most entrepreneurs just want to do the work but many of us are guilty of putting financial planning on the back burner. We all know that we need to get cozy with our business finances but just seem to get stuck and continue with bad habits.

Today's guest, Connie Vanderzanden, is on a mission to help entrepreneurs live the lifestyles they desire by learning the simple steps, structure, and discipline to create and save money. With 34 years of accounting and bookkeeping experience, a variety of industry knowledge, and her own real-life business growth journey since 2001, Connie developed the Going Beyond Revenue Cash Handling System, focusing on cash flow planning that creates profitable and sustainable businesses.

Connie is here to help you get on track and turn your cash eating business into a self sustaining machine that actually pays you.

In this episode, Connie talks about:

What brought Connie into the world of money and finances and why she loves mentoring businesses. 3:32
The common mistakes people make that puts them in tough financial positions and how to avoid them. 5:47
Starting the journey to transform your cash eating business to a money eating machine. 10:54
Tips to understanding your most basic and minimal financial commitments. 13:48
Setting up a cash handling system. 17:53
Some quick and easy actions to start you on a healthy financial path. 24:03
Savings and why you need a cash reserve. 26:45
Resisting the urge to spend every dollar and change your money mindset. 30:13
Making intentional money related decisions as an entrepreneur. 33:17

Have a profit cushion. Create a system in your business where your savings, a little bit of money, half a percent to up to 5% or 15% if you're more successful business, but something that creates a cash cushion so that you don't have to be dependent on a bank loan. You don't have to be dependent on credit card or pay those outrageous interest rates that you have can actually physically see how money is supporting you and your business.

Connie Vandersanden

Connie’s honesty is so refreshing. I love that she reminds us that money isn’t good or bad but a tool for us to make a difference in the world.

We need to let go of the shame around not being great with finances, especially when we have people like her around to help guide us with expert advice and actions that we can implement into our lives… today!

Understanding our cash flow is so important to a successful and sustainable business, and Connie provided us with a ton of resources to help us get there - be sure to check out her socials for all the goodies.

Connect with Connie:

LinkedIn: Connie.Vanderzanden1

Website: www.profitwithconnie.com

Instagram: @Connie.Vanderzanden

YouTube: Profit With Connie

Mentioned in this episode:

Quickbooks

Connie's Resource Vault

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

061: A Candid Conversation with a Heart-Centered Entrepreneur.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 17 May 2021 15:35:30 +0000

With Mylène Després

If there is one good thing that has come about recently, it is that people are really making an effort to support their local businesses and this is made easier when you see these businesses pour their heart and soul into their work.

Community focused businesses are feeling the love and thriving with an outpouring of support from the communities they serve. Today’s guest embodies what it means to be a heart-centered entrepreneur.

Mylène Després turned her professional life upside down in pursuit of making a bigger community impact, and founded La Station in order to support entrepreneurs by sharing her knowledge and connections. Working with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and not-for-profit organizations, Mylène’s goal was to help them level up to make a bigger impact.

Today’s episode is a little different. It is simply a candid conversation with a heart centered entrepreneur who I believe has something important in common with you, and that is, her desire to leave people better than she found them.

This conversation with Mylène goes deep and may be triggering to our friends in the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced discrimination on their entrepreneurial journey.

Now, without further ado, let’s get heart centered with Mylène.

In this episode, Mylène talks about:

Mylène story and why she chooses to bring her heart into her work. 2:20
The importance of reconnecting with people genuinely as a heart centered entrepreneur. 5:12
What does professional really mean? Questioning how we gather, connect, and what topics are "appropriate" as we start to reconnect after a pandemic. 10:55
Retro inspection, asking yourself about your values and what you care about. 11:35
How purpose in your work can help your mental health. 14:35
Issues with a our current capitalistic mindset and recognizing our privilege to better the system. 16:55
What listeners can do today to help contribute to a better system. 18:34
Tough conversations, why it is important to inform yourself on important topics. 21:45
How we can return to social media instead of business media. 29:12
What is heart-centered networking? 35:03
The economy... and what matters more. 36:16
How she recommends listeners get started introducing their values, their beliefs and their heart-centeredness into their day to day lives and business. 41:06

Be human. Be yourself and making mistakes is part of it. We will all make mistakes, whether it's something that we say that has roots in racism, or mis-gendering somebody - we will all make mistakes. The important part to remember as you're opening up, is that it's very scary to put yourself out there. But if you're putting yourself out there in the most vulnerable way you can and with not the intention of being perfect, but with the intention of learning, you can't go wrong. And when you make a mistake, you apologize, and you do better next time. That's it. That's all there is to it.

Mylène Després

I am both inspired and humbled after this conversation with Mylène. Her desire to make her community shine is undeniable and has not gone unnoticed.

Her willingness to share her story with me so openly affirms that she really does walk the walk and integrates her passions into her work. Her abundance mindset has afforded her so many opportunities and her flexibility as an entrepreneur has made it possible for her to pursue meaningful projects and connections.

We can all learn from this conversation with Mylène and I hope that you were also inspired to center your heart in your business.

Thank you for spending some time with me today, I know there are all kinds of things you could be doing right now but you chose to hang out with me. See you next time!

Connect with Mylène:

Facebook: LaStationInc

Website: LaStationSupport.com

Instagram: @LaStationInc

Mentioned in this episode:

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality Check.

Seeing Gender

Book recommendations: ANYTHING Brene Brown

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

060: You Probably Need This Website Checkup. Hit Play.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:15:30 +0000

With Taylor de la Fuente

An apple a day keeps the doctor away but have you considered that your website may also need a check up?

There's a lot of marketing advice out there, but if you don't have a killer website, none of that matters. Your website is the last stop a client makes before they reach out, and if it sucks, you're dead in the water.

Words are a supper effective way to bring people into your funnel and up your conversion rate. Copy that converts sends the message that you have the solution to your customer's problem but can also send the message that you actually see them.

Taylor de la Fuente is an award-winning writer, champion for inclusive language and the owner of Lemon Tree Editorial and she is here to tell us how it is. As a website copywriter serving the wedding industry, Taylor writes authentic and inclusive web copy for wedding pros who want to sell their services while they sleep. Before starting Lemon Tree Editorial, she worked in journalism, SEO and marketing.

Taylor has a message that any business owner needs to hear… like… right now! So pull up a chair or snuggle in on the couch and check out this not to be missed episode of The Workshop Weekly Podcast.

In this episode, Taylor talks about:

Her experience that lead her on the path of being the copywriter and website expert that she is today. 2:34
The difference between regular content, copywriting, and conversion copywriting and why that matters. 3:57
Converting online - using your words to help people take action. 5:41
Sales funnels and where your website fits and how it will help build your business using this model. 8:59
How to structure a great website homepage so that you are clearly inviting people to stay, look around, and buy. 12:31
The importance of considering the "fold" and what to put there. 15:38
Do's and don'ts for different pages of your website. 24:44
Top mistakes people make on their about page and how you can avoid them. 30:59
Being clear on your values on your website and how to be inclusive in your content and offer. 33:01
Inclusive VS exclusive language and how it can effect your business. 41:39

My recommendation and my one piece of advice is treat your website like the number one sales and marketing tool that it is invest some time some money into it, and it will sell your services or your products for you.

Taylor de la Fuente

Being inclusive in your website copy tells people that you see them and that you welcome and appreciate their business.

I love Taylors example of looking at your website like it is your home - warm and inviting. And like you home, your website should say something about YOU. People buy from people, not companies so being sure to personalize your website and include your story will build a relationship that will have your customers coming back and even sharing your business with the people they care about.

I know that it is uncomfortable to talk about yourself sometimes but, as Taylor says, your About page is one of the most important spaces on your website so show it some love and be sure to include a professional looking photo so everyone can attach your face to your business.

This was a great conversation and I hope you walk away from this episode motivated to give your own website a check up!

Connect with Taylor

Website: www.lteditorial.com

Instagram: @lteditorial

Mentioned in the Podcast

Understand how users are experiencing your website with Hotjar!

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

059: New Age Networking: How to Mingle Online. – Sara Alepin

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 03 May 2021 13:01:45 +0000

With Sara Alepin.

A room packed full of strangers invokes different feelings in the context of a pandemic. Networking in 2021 looks a little different now, doesn’t it?

The idea of networking was triggering for some people even before COVID - bad experiences getting trapped in a conversation with someone you know isn’t your target audience, social anxiety, and even general awkwardness ring a bell?

The constant pitching can really dampen the mood yet we are constantly being advised to pitch at every opportunity… and it is exhausting! Whatever happened to a “happy” happy hour?

Today’s guest is here to tell us that there is a better way. Sara Alepin is a master connector.

She’s so good at it, she turned it into a business when founding the District Bliss Community. District Bliss is a community of creatives and business owners who want to expand their networks quickly, build their businesses with ease, and just find their people! They host socials that take the “work” out of networking and workshops taught by leading experts to get you on the road to success without the stress!

Are you ready to talk networking? Let’s do it.

In this episode, Sara talks about:

How Sara's own experience with networking inspired her to break the current networking experience and rebuild it to be to be collaborative instead of competitive. 2:18
Her theory on what networking will look like in 2021 and beyond and advice for making the most of the experience. 3:51
How to have a positive networking experience online that feels like a casual happy hour. 5:51
Things we can do to get out of our own heads and be truly present at networking events. 11:56
How to navigate online events when you are craving the physical connection with somebody. 15:06
Places to go to find online networking events to attend. 19:11
Red flags to look out for when deciding on a networking event to attend virtually. 21:59
What you can expect at an online networking events. 27:12
Where you can find Sara’s specific networking events. 32:22

So homework item one would be to grab that (free resource) so that you can be successful in your online and in person networking events. This is geared toward online but applicable to in person events. And then what I want you to do is I actually want you to reach out to Kelly and tell her what one of your favorite topics that she has covered is on this podcasts. And then also I would like you to tell her if you have someone that you would recommend that she interview. So I want you to reach out to her on Instagram and tell her that information. One, it is so lovely as someone who hosts something like a podcast and who gives so generously like you do Kelly, to actually know that people cared about something that that has so much value. So if you do that, if you show up in Kelly's DMS, you are going to stand out immediately as an amazing connection to her.

Sara Alepin

Repeat after me...You don’t need to be an extrovert to be an excellent networker. When you start treating every opportunity as a networking one and learn to listen and ask questions more than you pitch, you can really start to enjoy these opportunities and make valuable connections.

Being prepared is key and Sara gave us some great pointers that will ensure that you have a great networking experience. Leveraging your connections is key to succeeding in your business… and you can do it from the comfort of your own home!

Sara is changing the face of networking and I really like where it is going. She loves to find ways to make building a business easier — and more fun! Connecting people and curating a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who support one another… sound familiar?

She shared some fantastic tips with us and some resources including her own podcast, be sure to check them out in the show notes at KellyLawson.ca/059.

And thank you again so much for lending your earbuds to this episode. You’re the reason I do this. Bye for now.

Connect with Sara

Website: districtbliss.com

Instagram: @districtblissevents

Podcasts: The Wedding Dish Podcast and Laughing With Gingers

Mentioned in the Podcast

Places to find networking events: Eventbrite, Six Degrees Society, LinkedIn Events

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

058: How to Stand Out in the Inbox.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:33:27 +0000

With Erika Holmes.

Raise your hand if you have more emails than you can shake a stick at. You may not be able to see me but I am raising my hand as high as I can.

That said, Email is still one of the most effective ways to reach your audience. When Facebook changes their algorithms for the hundredth time or when Instagram changes their priority to video content, we can always fall back on the good old faithful email as a reliable way to show up for our customers.

So how can you entice your customers to click open on your email when you have so much noise to compete with?

Today’s guest, Erika Holmes, is a copywriting expert who helps entrepreneurs find the sweet spot between clarity and personality in their marketing message. Through her work with big and small brands alike, she’s seen firsthand that putting personality in your copy is the fastest, best way to attract dream clients. In addition to online entrepreneurs and personal brands, Erika’s list of clients includes eBay, StubHub and Levi’s and many more. She’s on a mission to show her kids and other aspiring entrepreneurs that they can make a damn good living doing what they love — even with an English degree.

Erika shares her top tips and tricks for adding a little personality to your email content that your customers can’t wait to click on!

In this episode, Erika talks about:

How emailing became her area of expertise and how it all started with a purple notebook with yellow moons and stars. 3:06
Welcome sequence, nurture sequences, welcome series... oh my! Erika breaks down this necessary part of successful email campaigns. 6:33
Harnessing the power of the magic subject line and embracing the bestie vibe. 8:10
What you can expect as a benchmark for your open rate and building creditability with your presence in the inbox. 11:32
How unsubscribes can be a good thing! 14:20
How consistency sets the expectations for your audience. 15:17
How being clear on your goals will help you develop copy to reach them. 16:38
Erika's email rules to live by. 17:45
The effectiveness of a good P.S. (or TLDR). 18:45
Never missing an opportunity to personalize you email content. 22:03
Know, like and trust factors and the right proportion of email types to build this relationship. 24:38
The ideal number of emails and how to generate great content to populate them. 26:09
The golden metric you should be watching. 29:47

The one thing I think you can do to uplevel your email marketing is make it a date, put it in your calendar. Like, when you stop listening to this, look at your calendar and figure out what's going to be your dedicated writing time, think about your magic hours...a lot of times I don't always know what the takeaway from my email is gonna be, it kind of reveals itself through my writing. So that would be my put on your calendar, make it a date.

Erika Holmes

I took so many notes during this episode and am just itching to put them into practice in my own business emails. Bestie vibe subject lines… that’s genius!

Erika is a wealth of knowledge and I am so grateful that she shared a ton of tangible advice that you can easily start implementing in your own business right away. She also made me feel a little better about the occasional unsubscribe.

Being consistent is key in your email marketing and will help to keep you top of mind as you navigate all the noise that is the email inbox. Building a relationship with your audience will help them know, like, and trust you making them much more likely to click that catchy subject line.

And P.S. (see what I did there?) I know I say it all the time but I am so grateful that you lend me your valuable attention week after week.

So, check out the show notes at kellylawson.ca/058 to see how you can connect with Erika and additional resources. Until next time, Workshop Warriors!

Connect with Erika

Website: www.erikaholmes.com

Insta: www.instagram.com/erikavholmes/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/erikavidalholmes

Mentioned in the Podcast

Atomic Habits by James Clear

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

057: How to Give Your Biz Personality without Seeming Self Centered?

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 12:14:27 +0000

With Jill Wise

Does your business have a personality?

Like, does what you put out there convey that you're a real person who is friendly and personable and a great choice to do business with? Or is it a faceless business and a bit robotic at times?

Well, your business and your brand aren't built by robots and your brand isn't something that's mass produced on an assembly line so it should never feel like that. Because you create it, you carefully cultivate and grow it from a fragile dream up inside your beautiful mind to the result of a million cups of coffee, long day's hard work and perseverance. Believe it or not, creating a brand with no personality is a surprisingly, very common small business mistake.

But why does it matter?

Whether or not you're conveying personality in your business, be it on your website, your social copy, or ads, is often where you are creating first impressions of your small business to potential customers. When a potential customer visits your website, they are looking at how capable you are of solving their problem also if you're someone that they can connect with. If they have a choice between two businesses, and one looks bland and robotic, while the other one looks friendly, and approachable and personable. Who do you think they'll call? You got it - The business with the personality every single time.

So, how do you add personality to your small business website or online assets without making it seem all me, me, me? Well, my new business friend, Jill Wise, is a brand strategist, growth marketer and the creator of the client attraction equation. And she is here today to show you exactly how to do it. Because guess what, despite the pandemic, Jill was able to double her revenue in 2020 by injecting her personality into her business, and she wants the same for you. So let's dig in and learn all of Jill's business personality secrets, shall we? Okay.

In this episode, Jill talks about:

Why Jill cares about injecting personality into brands and teaching people to build their business around this personality. 3:20
The key to ditching the feeling that showcasing your business personality is self absorbed and embracing authenticity. 7:26
Defining authenticity in regards to your brand. 8:11
How do we know what we should/shouldn’t be sharing from a brand strategy point of view. 9:30
Listening as an essential part of knowing what to share on behalf of your business and what to keep behind the scenes. 10:47
Figuring out what clients care about VS what they don't care about and whether your content is landing with them. 13:09
Best tips to get off the social media struggle bus and curate effective content that shows your personality. 17:57
How to know if you’re oversharing. 20:59
The concerns about coming off as inauthentic and why it is not as likely as you may think. 23:10
Jill’s advice to people who encounter crickets after posting and how to deal with this inevitability... at least at the start. 24:43
Getting criticism from the wrong people, knowing who to listen to and who to ignore. 31:09
Common mistakes people make injecting their personality into their brand. 34:23

My only regret in business is not starting sooner and not starting all of these things sooner. I let fear get the best of me for so long. Fear, insecurities, imposter syndrome, wondering who would want to listen to what I have to say, all of those sorts of things. And I just wonder how far along my business would have been if I just started sooner just started telling stories sooner and trying to connect with people sooner.

Jill Wise

Jill is a wealth of knowledge. And I think we can all agree that the client attraction equation or the sum of experiences they have with you and your brand is way too important to not give attention to and in the age of information.

These interactions with your brand go far beyond the bricks and mortar and far beyond the experience that happens face to face. So we need to pay attention to how we show up and how that goes beyond the messaging to offer our audiences a sense of community, entertainment and connection to us.

Incorporating personality into your content is one of the most overlooked ways to help you stand out and hone your uniqueness. To connect with Jill and to find any other resource mentioned in this episode. Please visit the show notes at KellyLawson.ca/057. And thanks again for hanging out with me.

Was it just me or did this go by way too fast? I appreciate you, you know. Bye for now.

Connect with Jill

Website: www.wordsbyjill.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/wordsbyjill

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wordsbyjill

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

056: Turn Your eCommerce Business into a Money-Making Machine.

Kelly Lawson — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 13:47:15 +0000

With Jessica Totillo Coster

So, I know we are all pretty tired of hearing about 2020 as the year of the panny, but if there’s one thing that really stands out as an irreversible cultural shift from it all, it is the need to push our wares onto the internet.

I know you are already thinking: but how in the H can I actually really make a go at this ecommerce thing in such a wildly noisy and oversaturated space? There is SO MUCH competition out there.

Well my friend, with more consumers shopping online than ever before, and a particular interest in supporting small businesses above the giants like amazon, it’s really the perfect set of circumstances for small businesses and solopreneurs to really get serious about e-commerce.

And I get it, taking the plunge can be super intimidating for a small business owner like you, especially if you have a one-person businesses with a tight budget.

the good news is, it’s not as hard as you might think, and one of the very best ways to learn is to see how other people did it.

That is exactly why my guest, Jessica Coster, is here today. After 20+ years in retail and 3 years as the only employee of a 7-figure eCommerce business, Jessica now works with the top experts in eCommerce and helps female business owners like you achieve the same by teaching the secrets of 7-figure eCommerce businesses.

Today’s episode is so jam packed with tangible takeaways and simple actions you can take with your own business that will yield super delicious quick wins. You’ll honestly be losing money by not listening in today. So grab a cup and open your treatbag because today’s episode is jampacked with goodies.

In this episode, Jessica talks about:

How she became an eCommerce badass. 2:57
Learning the hard way so you don't have to, sharing her best secrets. 5:55
Keeping it simple - the paradox of choice and the real cost of decision fatigue. 9:30
Misunderstood and underutilized - strategies for using Email marketing effectively. 13:54
How you can really get up close and personal with your customers. 18:28
Tips for making sure subscribers actually open your emails. 20:59
The target open rate for emails, what that means for your business, and how to increase it. 25:45
Strategies for bringing the same customers back again, and again... and again! 30:15
Recycle, reuse, and repost - how often customers need to see a product before making a purchase (hint: it is more than you think). 32:02
Standing out in all the noise as an eCommerce business owner. 35:23
Opportunities for eCommerce business owners to involve satisfied customers to generate and share content. 36:49

Go look at the feedback that you're getting from your customers. Look at your reviews, look at your customer service inquiries, look at your comments on social media, and start really getting a sense of how your customer talks about your product and then use that same language when you talk. about your product. Because now when that new customer comes and reads it, they're gonna be like, how did she know? That's what I was thinking, oh my god, she's in my head. So as much as you can use your own customers language, the better off you'll be. And there's so much of it there. We just have to take the time to look for it.

Jessica Totillo Coster

Well, I told you that you are going to learn a whole lot by listening to today's episode.

I can't wait to get away from this recording studio to go make some changes in my own business after speaking with Jessica. She is such a wealth of knowledge. And really, I could have spoken to her all day about this stuff.

It's very clear to me that she's super smart and pays attention to the right stuff. So, if you're like me and you want to learn more from Jessica, be sure to check out the show notes for ways to get in touch with her and to download some of her free resources at KellyLawson.ca/056.

Was it just me or did this episode go by way too fast? I love hanging out with you like this and I'm really excited to grace your earbuds or ear holes (I don't know why I just said that) next week. Until then, bye for now.

Mentioned in the episode:

Stormboard

The eCommerce Badassery Podcast

Connect with Jessica:

Website: eCommerceBadassery.com

Facebook: facebook.com/ecommercebadassery

Instagram: instagram.com/ecommercebadassery/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessicatotillo/

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

055: Here’s How to Hook Your Audience in 15 Seconds.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 21:02:51 +0000

With Lauren Schwartz

In today’s world of content overload and shortened attention spans, quick snappy content is every business owner’s secret weapon.

Recent studies have shown that the average person spends about 15 seconds skimming online content as they scroll. To put this into perspective, that’s about the amount of time it takes to check a notification on your smartphone, send a single short text, stretch at your desk, or the length of one Instagram stories slide.

The good news is, there are a few different ways that you can cut to the chase and grab your potential customer’s attention in 15 seconds and that’s exactly what today’s guest, Lauren Schwartz is here to teach you about today.

Lauren is a thought leader creating profitable creative strategies for e-commerce brands. Lauren's passions lie in creating top-performing ad creatives and she is obsessed with strategy. In her downtime, Lauren enjoys teaching others how to create effective content for their own businesses using, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Pinterest.

So, how do you create a compelling, branded narrative in the time it takes to fire off a text? Well Lauren is here to teach you exactly how, so let’s dig in!

In this episode, Lauren talks about:

How she came to be a digital marketing guru and an E-Commerce strategist. 2:20
Her successful work with multi-million dollar bands. 3:21
How to generate engaging content that improves click-through rates. 5:04
The key to using video ads to get more leads. 6:48
User Generated Content (UGC) and how to leverage it in your own business. 8:20
Why it's important to tell your story in less than 15 seconds and how to extract the most important information to include in such a short time frame. 10:21
Creative testing, how to use it it in your pitch, and how to decipher what works and what falls flat. 14:35
Actions to take if you test an ad and feedback is negative. 16:56
A three second hook and what images and content to use to create one. 19:09
What to do to keep people from scrolling past and forgetting about you. 24:17
Putting out entertaining content without implying you’re trying to sell a product. 25:43
The type of content to present at different stages of the buying journey for the best response. 28:15
Common mistakes in the world of digital marketing and how to avoid them. 31:05
Influencer marketing and how it fits into the digital marketing world. 33:15

I think the biggest thing that you can do is really find that hook, that really clear headline that calls out what your product does, and how it could be beneficial to someone. Take that very clear image and just put that headline on a piece of creative to test out. And again, it could be three different headlines that you test in a creative testing campaign, but I think sitting down and really figuring out how this product is going to work for you is what you should do with a clear image and clear headline.

Lauren Schwartz

Things happen fast in today’s world of hypermedia and content overload. We make quick decisions nowadays and keeping our attention is perhaps harder than ever. Like, remember when we used to have to sit through ads on old fashioned public streaming television? And now, we sit there waiting for the 4 second timer to pass so we can click “skip ad.” Or, we start a new Netflix series and if it doesn’t have us at the edge of our seats within the first minute, we go back to surfing.

Born from this firehose of on demand content is the need for punchy headlines, eye catching imagery and immediately compelling narratives. Gone are the days of rambling on and mediocrity.

I hope today’s episode inspired you to think of how you’re showing up online in that first 15 seconds. About the same amount of time it takes someone to move what you’ve posted through their scroll.

Lauren is a wealth of knowledge and she has had some serious success for her clients in considering that first 15 minutes of interaction. To connect with Lauren or any other resources mentioned in this episode, please visit our show notes at kellylawson.ca/055.

Connect with Lauren:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theloft325/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theloft325

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-schwartz-07354312/

Website - http://theloft325.com/

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

054: How You Can Use Storytelling to Win Customers.

Kelly Lawson — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:43:05 +0000

With Kim Houlahan

Nothing inspires like a story.

People have been captivated by stories since the beginning of time. It is the very reason that any one of us will get lost in a good book or binge on Netflix.

Storytelling is essential to our human existence, it helps us draw a connection to the things around us while also appealing to our intrinsic emotions.

When it comes to business storytelling, it’s a highly effective strategy that is so often overlooked. Let’s take some familiar ones for example: like the rise of Apple’s enigmatic Steve Jobs or how The Kardashians got their start. By telling the ‘whole story’ you tap into your audience’s emotions and genuinely connect with them. Your story makes you memorable and can lead your potential customers into believing in your product and/or service and what it stands for, gently encouraging them to buy.

Every company has a story to tell, and if your business can’t properly convey its story, your products likely won’t have as much appeal to your audience.

To perfect your story, my friend, professional storyteller and business coach Kim Houlahan is here today with some tips to get your creative storytelling juices flowing. Kim talks about the easy strategies you can use to get started with your own business storytelling. She does a phenomenal job in her own business!

So if the word storytelling for your business makes you squirm a little, you’re in good hands today.

Without further ado, let’s dig in to how you can begin to tell those captivating stories for your business.

In this episode, Kim talks about:

Kim's incredible and unique offer for her clients. 3:01
Navigating insecurity and her formula for sharing personal stories with confidence. 5:09
Kim’s own story! The career path that led her here. 7:23
Tangible steps that you can take today to achieve success in setting goals and measuring the results. 11:12
The art of focusing on fewer channels and being consistent. 16:07
Her thoughts on changing marketing abilities on social platforms. 18:18
The power of a response, what you should and shouldn't respond to. 20:02
DIY marketing coaching resource. 21:00
Results that clients can expect when following the process. 22:53

Marketing your business is like a marriage, you got to get your house in order. First you gotta get your strategy and your planning done, figure out who your ideal customer is, pricing, branding, all that stuff. That's the wedding. And then there's the marriage, and you have to keep that house in order. And this is where I think people struggle. It's not boring. But people might think of it as being boring. It's consistent. It's where you do your email marketing, your social media, your podcasts, your blogging, your phone calls, your sprinkling, whatever you're doing, to keep that steady rhythm going in your communications. That's the marriage.

Kim Houlahan

So what’s the moral of this story today? It’s this: Storytelling isn’t just for marketing. The benefits extend well beyond a simple ad. I hope after today’s episode you have begun to think about how you can weave YOUR story into your own business narrative to draw a connection with your fans, pepper it throughout your social posts and your website, arm your sales reps with the story of your brand’s founding, or let your customers use your unique story to attract new customers. After all, a good story is fun to tell. It makes us feel like we are part of something. And, it’s addicting. It’s why we binge netflix and leaves your fans wanting more. So please, never underestimate the power of a good business story.

To connect with Kim or to find any other resources mentioned in today’s episode, please visit the shownotes at kellylawson.ca/055.

And until next time workshop warrior, I can’t wait to hear your business story so I can draw a deeper connection with you, too. So get out there and shout it from the hilltops.

Until next week, bye for now.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Just Get Out There - Blog

Connect with Kim

www.thehoulahangroup.com/

www.instagram.com/kimhoulahan/

www.facebook.com/thehoulahangroup/

www.linkedin.com/in/kimhoulahan/

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

053: Beginner’s Guide to Using Facebook Ads For Your Biz.

Kelly Lawson — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 12:54:51 +0000

With Gretchen George

You might have noticed a drop in your traction on Facebook over the past year, and just so you know, it’s most likely not because people have randomly just stopped caring about you.

Nope. It’s the evil, elusive and ever-changing Facebook algorithm that has made it increasingly challenging to connect organically with your fans. Looks like Zuckerberg wants our money to use his platform after all.

And, Because Facebook’s micro-targeting ad features allow you to reach your exact target audience, the good news is, Facebook ads can get your message in front of the people who are most likely to want your products or services and not just click like and move on with their scroll. So there is a bit of a silver lining... if you’re willing to open your purse strings.

Facebook advertising is a pretty effective way to connect with highly targeted audiences, the kind that will click add to cart, on the world’s largest social network. And I have to admit, I have seen some early success in my business with Facebook ads. Since I've begun using Facebook ads to sell my digital programs, I have seen a 5x ROI on my ad spend, and not only that, I have learned a whole lot about the people who I am trying to reach. Specifically, which audiences are most likely to buy from me, and what language and imagery resonates to name just a few.

So, you know when you see an ad in your scroll and you’re like, how did they know I wanted that? Well, it’s not a coincidence my friend. It is the result of intricate data mining and tracking your activities on the platform. And recently, Apple iOS has rolled out new anti tracking features on their most recent software update that is keeping Facebook advertisers on their toes. It is a lot to keep track of. Pun intended.

And that’s why today’s guest, Gretchen George, is here today to help you make sense of it all. Gretchen simplifies an otherwise pretty technical topic, gives us her recommendations on what you should be doing online for your business, and although important, why Facebook ads are just part of an overall integrated marketing plan. She also reveals how Facebook ads can be used as a highly effective research tool, the benefits of split testing your Facebook ads, how you can get started if you’re a complete beginner and the ONE THING you should absolutely do with your Facebook account today, even if all this stuff flies at a high altitude over your head. It’s all about taking it in in bite sized pieces.

This conversation with Gretchen is sure to get you one giant step closer to using Facebook as the super powerful business tool it can be. You don't wanna miss this one. So let’s dive in.

In this episode, Gretchen talks about:

Why Facebook advertising is important for your business. 6:23
What small business owners should be doing online considering new algorithms. 7:30
How Facebook and Instagram ads fit into a bigger plan (and I can almost guarantee that they do!). 8:53
Tips for businesses to get prepared for a Facebook ad spend. 10:25
Facebook pixels and what kind of data it can collect. 15:24
Information, statistics and effectiveness of retargeting ads. 17:27
Resources for step by step instructions to set up Facebook pixels. 18:36
How business owners can be strategic about spending advertising dollars. 20:07
Appropriate budgets for Facebook ads. 24:26
Running a split tests on Facebook as a tool to learn about your audience. 25:42
What people fear most about Facebook ads. 27:23
What happens when you boost a Facebook post and why it is important. 29:28
Common mistakes people make when they're setting up ads. 30:30
Getting started with ads. 32:33
Results you can expect to see from your ads. 36:17
Exciting examples breakthrough discoveries with Facebook ads. 38:12
Helpful resources for people getting ready for Facebook ads. 40:17
Making Facebook ads work for YOU. 41:26

Don't leave marketing behind in your business, don't put it on the backburner. Make it a priority and come up with a strategy so that when you are ready to go, you can hit the ground running. Set up the pixel. Also, make sure you're including marketing and your strategy for 2021. Even if you don't even ever use Facebook, Instagram, ads ever, just set up the pixel so that if you choose to one of these days, that you're ready to go, you have some data in the pot already cooking, and you have an audience that you can speak to, that you don't have to cultivate from scratch.

Gretchen George

Pixels and ROI and split tests oh my!

I loved chatting with Gretchen. She makes an otherwise intimidating topic feel a little less scary, and I hope you learned a whole lot from her today. If nothing else, I hope you will walk away from this episode and get your Facebook pixel set up. It truly only takes a short amount of time, and even if you don't do a thing with it over the next little while, the data generated in the meantime could be very important in the future of that booming little empire of yours.

I hope that Gretchen helped to show you that being consistent and believing in yourself enough to make this kind of investment in yourself and in your business is what it takes to be successful, and Facebook ads can get you there if you are practicing what she shared with us today.

To find out more about Gretchen and anything mentioned in todays episode, please visit the show notes at kellylawson.ca/053

Thank you so much for tuning in today, I had a lot of fun. Who knew talking Facebook pixels could be so rad?

Until next week my friend, bye for now.

Connect with Gretchen

www.millingtonandgeorge.com https://www.facebook.com/millingtonandgeorge/ https://www.instagram.com/millingtonandgeorge/

Mentioned in the episode:

Using Facebook Pixels

A note from our sponsors:

Do you ever think about starting your own podcast but you worry that the sound quality might hold you back? Well don’t let that be the culprit. I wanna let you in on a little secret... lean in... East Coast Studio

East Coast Studio is the reason that this podcast sounds so amazing and they will take care of all your sound editing needs so that you can focus on the fun stuff. The experts at East Coast Studio will ensure your podcast is the highest possible quality, to reflect well on you and your brand and to deliver the best possible listening experience to your audience. East Coast Studio is a proudly Atlantic Canadian business and today they are offering 25% off of your first audio editing service. Just send an email to info@eastcoaststudio.ca and tell them Kelly sent you.

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

052: Here’s How to Make Your Ecommerce Business Wildly Successful.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 15:36:24 +0000

With Matt Edmundson

We’ve seen this story play out a million times before.

Someone gets that entrepreneurial fire blazing inside them only to have it quickly extinguished when they find themselves faced with indecision, fear, lack of direction or simply any sign that failure is afoot. So many of us stop at the first sign that a profitable, life-changing business might not be possible for someone with no prior business experience.

First, let me say that experience isn’t a prerequisite for starting a business… But willingness to learn, to get uncomfortable and to fail is. If you’re looking for proof that failure and discomfort are both a prereqs to stoking that entrepreneurial fire, let me direct your attention to the incomparable Matt Edmundson.

A guy who admits to having had more failures than successes, he states humbly that his successes have simply outweighed the failures, and he makes it abundantly clear that in the world of ecommerce entrepreneurship, the two are rarely sold separately.

From shipping popcorn with his products instead of bubble wrap to generating $50 million dollars of revenue worldwide from his own ecommerce site, Matt proves over and over again what’s possible when you start an online shop. He helps people uncover what they can sell, to the tune of a collective $100 million dollars of revenue generated for his ecom students, and he shares the brilliant strategies you can implement in your own business to stand out in a noisy industry.

This conversation is the complete guide for anyone who is ready to start and scale a product based business online with our fearless leader, and super down to earth guy, Matt Edmundson. You’re gonna learn alot and have some fun today, my friend.

In this episode, Matt talks about:

How he came to be an eCommerce guru. 3:06
The evolution of eCommerce over time and how things are different today. 5:47
What factors were in place that allowed his business to grow and scale so effectively. 7:30
What platforms and setups that he recommends for those just getting started with eCommerce. 10:46
The metrics that you should be looking at. 13:29
Understanding your conversions rates, how they compare to your industry, and setting your benchmark accordingly. 15:35
The Seven Pillars of eCommerce marketing. 18:26
Leveraging your marketing budget in creative and innovative ways. 21:37
Tapping into repeat customers. 24:14
The value of a personal touch and creativity in your packaging. 25:25
Tips for maintaining a positive customer experience or enhancing your existing one. 31:04
The importance of great product photos (even videos). 34:04
His masterclass, a deep dive into eCommerce and success stories from the course. 36:33

If you're going to do one thing today, I would figure out what products it is you're going to sell online and research it. Who else is selling it? How are they doing it? What does their website look like? Go through their website with a fine tooth comb, what stands out what needs to be changed? Buy stuff from their website. What worked for you what didn't work for you? Find out if Amazon sell that product. Read all the reviews, find the positive ones and the negative ones. Look at the language look at how people are feeling about it, and do their research.

Matt Edmundson

Matt was so truly lovely to chat with. He is so down to earth and approachable, and he is a complete wealth of knowledge in the eCommerce space. I mean, he’s been doing it since it’s inception practically.

Matt has loads of resources for eCommerce entrepreneurs whether you are just getting started, shifting your business online, or if you’ve had an online shop for years. Be sure to connect with Matt online, he has a free masterclass on his website.

As always, thank you again for joining me here today. I know I sounds like a borken record but I want you to know that I really mean it when I say thank you. You have hundreds of thousands of podcast options, and some seriously really good business podcasts, so the fact that you take the time to tune into my little corner of the podcast world week after week truly means everything. Ok I’ll stop gushing, but thank you again. Bye for now.

Connect with Matt

mattedmundson.com/ecommerce-masterclass

linkedin.com/in/mattedmundson

facebook.com/theecommercepodcast

Mentioned in the Podcast

Some popular eCommerce platforms include: Shopify, Squarespace, and Curious Digital.

Jungle Scout is a great platform for selling on Amazon.

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

051: Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking. Hit Play.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 15:33:01 +0000

With Jessica Rasdall

When we talk about the things in life that humans fear the most, public speaking often tops the list. In fact our collective fear of standing up in front of a group and talking is so great that some surveys suggest we actually fear it more than death. And, on one hand I totally get it, having had total panic attacks myself about needing to speak on stage before a crowd, or into this podcast mic even. But on the other hand, doesn't it seem strange that we’re so friggin afraid of something inherently not life threatening? Like, what exactly are we so afraid of, anyway? What do we think will happen to us? We’re unlikely to suffer any real physical or lasting harm, and for the most part good things come from public speaking. I mean, for one thing it’s great for building credibility, authority and growing our businesses - so why all the fear?

Well, today’s guest, Jessica Rasdall has definitely figured out how to overcome the thing we fear most as she has made her way onto countless stages telling her incredibly gut wrenching story to hundreds of thousands of people. She has told her story of turning her “mess into a message” and has been featured on major international media outlets such as ABC's 20/20, Katie Couric, The Guardian, MTV, Netflix, and many more. I mean just Google her - she’s a big deal and so is her story.

And while the fear of public speaking is super real, and the idea of showing up in front of masses can be totally anxiety inducing, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU’RE MISSING THAT COULD TURN this all AROUND FOR YOU. And today Jessica is letting us in on the secret of how to flip this self induced anxiety on it’s head. You’re about to learn the one thing that is far more important than a slightly irrational fear of people looking at you while you talk. So get ready, you’re gonna learn a lot.

Also I want to add a trigger warning here because this episode discusses a drunk driving incident resulting in loss of life.

In this episode, Jessica talks about:

The transformative story that brought Jessica into the world of public speaking and storytelling for business owners. 3:18
Billboard statements - telling the story that supports the message your audience needs to hear. 7:33
How to find your one (yes one) key message. 10:13
How to dismantle objections in advance to be receptive to hearing your message. 12:11
How to overcome the fear of speaking (being an introvert is NOT an excuse). 15:09
Speaking not being for everyone, and that is okay! 17:43
Getting to the bottom of what your audience really needs to hear from you. 18:28
Tips for ensuring that your message will resonate before you go live. 21:10
Getting comfortable with your message and staying in your lane as a way to build confidence. 23:35
The value of recording yourself speaking. 26:57
Using public speaking to grow your business. 28.37
The four steps to getting to the stage. 29:44
Helping people tackle their mindset around public speaking. 32:11
What common mistakes are people making in their talks and how to avoid them. 33:38

I'm going to challenge you to go write that billboard statement today, that is huge for you is going to gain so much clarity on what it is you're speaking about, and what message the difference that you're making for the audience. So I want you to really sit down and think about "if I can only tell them one thing, What will I tell them?".

Jessica Rasdall

Wow. Such an amazing conversation with Jessica. There’s just so much to stew on. I have a feeling you’re gonna think about this episode a few more times before the day is out.

Here’s what stuck with me… while the fear of public speaking is super real, and the idea of showing up in front of masses is totally anxiety inducing, your WHY should always be paramount. I love how Jessica explains that public speaking isn't actually about you, but it’s about your message and the people who need to hear it. It is about leaving people who see you and hear you better than you found them. That’s what stuck to my ribs, if i can use that in this context, and, when she put this spin on it, it is easy to see that serving your audience should be far more important than a slightly irrational fear of how you will be received. And then I got chills because I remembered that’s exactly the message I needed to hone within myself to bring this podcast to you. And, if I didn't think about how much it meant to me to bring this to YOU, how that was far more important to me than my fear of judgement, well, this podcast wouldn't exist and that makes me sad. Because, you and I wouldn't be meeting cool business experts, learning new things about common business topics, and growing and learning and leveling up our businesses, together.

So yeah, we grew this great little podcast with a great little following and super amazing expert guests all because one day I finally faced it that YOU are more important than my silly fears.

So yeah, the next time you fear something, like something irrational (not hungry bears you should definitely fear hungry bears) but, your fear for being yourself, or showing up as you are, or doing a live video, or public speaking, any of that stuff. The next time you find yourself sitting in irrational fear like that, I challenge you to remind yourself that its only holding you back, and I challenge you to remember Jessica’s message and then think about the people who are missing out on what you have to give because of your silly fear.

Ok. Okay.

Thank you once again for tuning into another episode of the workshop weekly podcast. To find more information about Jessica or anything else mentioned in this episode, please visit the shownote at kellylawson.ca/051. And, I gotta say, I really like hanging out like this, y’know? Til next week!

Connect with Jessica

JessicaRasdall.com

facebook.com/OfficialJessicaRasdall

instagram.com/JessicaRasdall/

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

050: How to Create a Brand That Actually IS Funny and Unforgettable

Kelly Lawson — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 16:48:39 +0000

With Rachael Kay Albers

Laughter isn't just a gimmick, it really is better than medicine. It helps us learn faster, it helps us retain information, it reduces stress, brings our energy up and it gets our hormones flowing so that we can be better problem solvers. It does very good things and lately I think we all wish that we could have a little more of it.

Well my friend, you are in for a treat today. As soon as I learned about today’s guest, I was immediately so inspired and enthralled by her content and how she shows up in the world, I KNEW I had to have her not only on the show, but in my world. I mean, I straight up wanted to immediately become her best friend. And the thing is. That isn't a coincidence. It is truly a product of an incredibly unforgettable, stand out, dialed in marketing strategy.

Rachael Kay Albers is a business comedian, marketing educator, and no stranger to creating what she refers to as ‘UNFORGETTABILITY’ in business. Rachael Kay, otherwise known as RKA uses her SNL-like comedy angle to help people learn the things she teaches in her business and on her YouTube channel 'Awkward Marketing.' Her content is entertaining and fun and quite honestly like no one else I’ve ever seen before. So above all else, RKA is a marketing educator and strategist who full-on practices what she preaches. She walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to creating a business and a brand that truly stands out. I mean, I binged her youtube videos harder than the first season of Ozark and Tiger King combined, and I laughed and learned along the way. How about that for an endorsement?

I am beyond excited to introduce you to today’s guest Rachael Kay Albers, creative director and business comedian. And in this episode she is sharing how YOU can follow her lead and create unforgettability in your own business to skyrocket your business growth too. So, settle in and get ready to meet my hilarious new business inspiration and hopefully future business bestie, Rachael Kay Albers.

In this episode, we talk about:

How she came to be the unforgettable entrepreneur and marketing genius she is today. 4:39
How marrying education, entertainment, and humour came together to create Awkward Marketing. 7:27
Not needing to be a videographer to learn the skills to craft great video content. 11:58
Different types of content: in the moment and evergreen and why they are both important to validate the information you are putting out into the world. 15:20
The beauty (yes beauty) of low production quality content. 17:28
Being rewarded for just hanging out and engaging with your clients and followers. 20:51
Her best tips for entrepreneurs to become unforgettable. 24:03
The benefits of becoming a GIFfluencer. 31:23

I think you need to follow awkward marketing on YouTube. I really I have given so much value in this episode, I am just gonna come in hot with a self promotion. That's the kind of marketer I am today. So Awkward.Marketing.tv I think that's going to be your first step. I think you're gonna need a crash course and letting your hair down and just having fun while learning about business.

RKA

What can I say. You are welcome. But really, please don’t walk away after listening to this episode and NOT look Rachael up on the internet. Her content is truly where comedic entertainment meets social media and business marketing education and I truly believe she is paving the way for the future of how we show up online.

I mean, I took one look at her and then immediately back at myself and realised, hang on, I don't look annnnny different than anyone else in my industry. There is no reason for someone to remember me over another podcaster, photographer or educator. My branding and messaging are safe, and objectively similar to others in my field, and somehow I never recognised that as a problem until RKA. And so, I challenge you to do the same. Look inward at the business you are building and the brand you are creating and ask yourself those hard questions too. Like, do I truly stand out in my industry? Or have I fallen into the trap of more of the same? And so now I blend. And if the answer to that is yes, I wanna encourage you to do some deep digging and make some changes. Be your own thing. Stop looking sideways and give yourself permission to be different, bolder, more memorable - and to be true to yourself while you’re at it. I know I feel called to do better with how I show up after meeting Rachael.

I will link to all of her corners of the web in the show notes, but if you wanna skip that step, simply search Awkward Marketing on YouTube, or type RKA into your next GIFY search and you will be well on your way to getting your daily RKA fix. And I’m going to go ahead and say it, I believe she is someone to watch, because she is definitely someone who is doing things unforgettability and we are all about to see where that takes her. No presh RKA.

Today was such a treat for me, I can’t thank you enough for tuning in to yet another episode of The Workshop Weekly podcast. I am so grateful to get to introduce to you so many incredible business experts and grace your earbuds, or car speakers, or google mini week after week.

Until next week my friend, I'm gonna miss ya. Bye for now.

Mentioned in this episode:

Interview with John Snow, Tarzan Kay, and Sage Polaris (I swear it is relevant)

Everything you need to know about Doves.

Connect with Rachael

rachaelkayalbers.com

rkaink.com

instagram.com/rachaelkayalbers

youtube.com/rkaink

facebook.com/rachaelkayalbers

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

049: How to Get Ready to Kiss Your 9-to-5 Goodbye!

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 14:43:29 +0000

With Kelly Lawson

Does the end of the weekend make you want to cry, and not just because you might actually have to put on real pants again? If the idea of returning to your corporate gig after a little time away feels soul crushing, know this: you are not alone. Too many people are dragging their butts to jobs that pay the bills but require waaay too big of a payoff when it comes to personal satisfaction and happiness.

So, what if I told you that leaving the 9-to-5–or, let's be honest, 9-to-9, for many of you–behind is totally do-able?

Cause it is. I should know. I’ve done it a few times now.

And trust me, I remember how scary it was to even entertain the thought of leaving.

But you know what? I also have the inside scoop on how life-changing and straight-up rewarding it can be to go your own way too. So, in honour of this fancy new year we’re already A MONTH into, and of the new beginnings we thought it might bring, this week’s episode of the Workshop Weekly Podcast is going to be both really personal AND very practical. Along with sharing my story, and some insights I’ve picked up along the way talking to dozens of other people who told their boss to take their job and shove it (in a nice way), I’m going to give you a to-do list of concrete actions you can start taking today to get into the mindset of making a big move.

My hope is that I can save you some time and pain in taking a big leap and making your move from corporate drone to independent operator. So if you’ve been longing for something else, today’s show is for you.

In this Episode, I talk about:

My journey from occupational therapist to photographer, finding fulfillment in a creative outlet. 5:30
The belief that you are capable of making a change. 11:40
Getting up close and personal with failure so you can get up close and personal with success. 13:57
How hiring a great accountant will make your life SO much easier. 15:51
Avoiding debt at all costs. 17:25
Branding yourself and your business, setting yourself up for success. 20:16
Taking advantage of advertising opportunities and measuring your results. 22:29
Taking the time to fill your calendar with fulling work that will quickly replace your old income. 25:50

Being an entrepreneur isn’t some crazy unattainable dream. Really, when you peel down all the layers and fluff, it’s a simple process. It’s all about defining problems and coming up with the best possible solution and then testing the solution and measuring the results. If the results are unfavourable, you go in and try again. That’s it.

Kelly Lawson

OK, so there you have it, the things you need to do to get ready to shift from day job to being your own boss, from the mindset you need to make the change, to those five practical actions you can start taking this very day to get started with confidence and clarity.

And hey, I know it’s scary as heck, but please know that if you do happen to fail, you will be okay. For me, I had to just make the leap and know that even if “failure” occurred, I could still make it work. Like I said earlier in the show, failure is baked right into being an entrepreneur. It’s the way we know we’re challenging ourselves and learning. So embrace the f-word. I have!

And maybe you’re thinking, sure, Kelly, easy for you to say, things worked out for you and your dream came true. Well, my friend, to that I say: I am not an extraordinary case! I had zero connections, I was new to the city I lived in when I quit my day job and was burning the candles at both ends working the corporate job by day and building an empire by night. If I can do it, you can too!

I’d love to hear about where you’re at in your journey, and what’s keeping you from making the leap. You deserve to chase your dreams, invest in your business, set yourself up for success. Let me know how it feels when you can finally say, “I am a boss!”

Thanks for joining me on today’s show. I will see you at the same time, same place next week!

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Everything is Figureoutable - Marie Forleo

016: Are You Legally Protected? Click Play to Find Out. - Mel Norton

034: Don't Fear the Tax Man: Here's How to Crunch Your Business Numbers - Donna Mazerolle

A Note From Our Sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

048: Time to Get Over Your Fear of Money Talk.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:49:01 +0000

With Keina Newell

Money, mindset, and mimosas. Well, I will be the first to admit that I only reeeally like talking about two of these things. Haha.

When I started my photography business, I dreaded and avoided money conversations like the plague. Clients would ask me what my rates were and I’d change the subject by asking a question: “What’s your budget?”

But, just because we don't like talking about something certainly doesn't make it any less essential to our success. If you’re like me, the word money makes you want to drive your head deep into a sandbox until the discussion ends. I’m not really sure how I became so weird about money talk, but entrepreneurship has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone there.

And for today’s guest, Keina Newell, she hears it from her clients allll the time. The truth is, so many of us avoid talking about it and addressing it head on. And as a result, we are sacrificing our success, our ability to set goals, our ability to confidently make business decisions and our ability to grow. It’s a pretty big trade off that is definitely not worth taking if you ask me.

So, let’s get comfy getting uncomfy so that we can talk about the tough stuff here today. Because, as William J Brenner Jr once said, We must meet the challenge rather than wish it were not before us. So, if numbers, finances and money make you skittish, lean in. If numbers, finances, and money are one of your favourite topics, well you’re gonna like this episode. No matter who you are, at the end of this episode, you will be one giant step closer to getting your money house in order. You ready for that? Let’s do it.

In this episode, Keina talks about:

How she found herself in the position of being the amazing finances spokeswoman that she is today. 2:53
What we don't learn in school about money management. 4:38
The dangerous trap that is student loans and debt. 6:00
Understanding your debt threshold. 9:12
Things you can do if you are feeling anxious about your financial situation. 11:06
Looking a head, dealing with uncertainty in 2021. 12:33
Getting a head in your finances when you have a good grasp of your cashflow. 14:54
Money Dates! Spending some quality time with your finances. 18:37
Being both and employer and employee in your business. 19:33
Understanding how much to pay yourself. 20:47
Setting money aside to invest back into your business. 22:23
Tips for how to make the most of an uncertain year. 23:42

My number one go to is to create a spending plan for your business. It is going to guide you in what you need to do in terms of your revenue, how much you can afford to pay yourself, getting you set up to pay taxes, and also invest in your business. I always say that, $1 is not $1 when you're in business for yourself, so you have to be able to look at those numbers with a different set of eyes because money is different when it flows to you as a business owner.

Keina Newell

Talking about money isn’t easy, I get it. It’s something I struggled with and continue to work on in my own business, for sure. I’d love to tell you that you can build a thriving business by avoiding these conversations. But I would be doing you a disservice because these discussions are not only really important, but quite frankly unavoidable. I am so grateful that Keina joined us today for some enlightenment and some solid strategies for embracing the money of things in business.

For more information about today’s episode, including how to get in touch with Keina, please visit the show notes at kellylawson.ca/048. And until next week workshop warriors, keep those money audits and money conversations flowing.

Bye for now.

Connect with Keina

www.wealthovernow.com

www.instagram.com/wealthovernow

www.facebook.com/wealthovernow

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

047: Is Your Business Accessible Online?

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:11:01 +0000

With Erin Perkins

It might be something you accidentally overlooked; web accessibility. If you’re a small business owner and you don’t even know what web accessibility actually means, well, sadly you are not alone.

You might’ve heard the term accessibility and given some consideration to your physical spaces, but have you considered ensuring that your web content can be consumed by all people?

Web accessibility is one of the most important issues facing online businesses today but somehow it remains surprisingly unnoticed for many businesses, particularly small to medium sized businesses. Because of this, many business owners don’t fully understand what the term actually means.

Web accessibility doesn’t mean ensuring that everyone has access to the Internet (though that’s an important issue, too). Web accessibility refers to ensuring that all online content can be readily consumed by all people, including people with disabilities.

Physically or brick and mortar businesses generally command a decent understanding of how their particular Disabilities Act affects their day to day business operations but online companies have some catching up to do because the needs of those with disabilities are often neglected.

However, times are changing and online businesses have a greater responsibility than ever to prioritize their website accessibility and that’s why today’s guest Erin Perkins is here to help you discover if your business is accessible, and to get you started with what you need to be doing if this is something that you haven’t given much thought to yet in your business.

I am particularly excited about today’s episode because it is where my two worlds finally converge - my background as an occupational therapist and my current online business educator status. Today’s goal is to ensure that your business is set up to be accessible to all walks of life so that everyone can enjoy becoming your customer. Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

In this episode, Erin talks about:

Erin's journey to becoming a passionate educator on accessibility. 4:03
Tips to getting started with making your online business more accessible TODAY. 6:49
What transcription resources are available to help you transcribe audio or visual media. 9:03
Common mistakes and barriers that people run into when trying to make their online business more accessible. 13:49
The resources that she offers to her clients to help them along their accessibility journey. 18:02
The time and resourced needed to ensure your business is up to date on the latest practices (it is less than you think!). 20:05
What it looks like to ensure your podcast is accessible. 22:18
Making your website accessible (pay attention to alt images!). 24:52
How to let your audience know that you are committed to doing the best you can with the resources you have to ensure your materials are accessible online. 29:07
More tips to make sure your website is accessible! 31:05
Who is already doing this well and what can be learned from them. 32:17

Pay attention to your social media because, more than likely, people find you through social media first more than your website. If you're doing regular videos, make sure your video are captioned. Camel cap your hashtags (use a capital letter for each word).

Erin Perkins

I loved chatting with Erin. She is a wealth of knowledge and provides so much insight into how far behind the online world is with being accessible to all. We all need to do our part because, much like the physical world, the Internet is an essential part of our day to day function. As such, businesses have a responsibility to ensure that all potential consumers can access their content.

And by the way, making sure that you comply with web accessibility standards won’t just help you avoid lawsuits, it’ll leave you much better equipped for long-term success in the growing digital world. So please don't walk away from this episode and ignore it.

For more on today’s episodes including Erin’s free roadmap, how to get in touch with her, and a transcription of this podcast, please visit the shownotes at kellylawson.ca/047. I am looking forward to seeing your online assets become more accessible to all people and until next week, keep on dreaming big and slaying your goals.

Resources and Businesses Mentioned in the episode:

Of course, there is Erin's Accessibility Made Easy course that you NEED to check out, and it only costs $147!

Otter.ai is a great transcription service and free up to 600 minutes!

We talked a lot about alt images and alt text and here is a good article to learn more about that.

We mentioned a couple of businesses doing a good job with their accessibility: Maggie Germano, Wealth Over Now, and the PR Bar. Check them out!

If you have a Squarespace website, you may want to check out Square ADA who can help ensure your website is accessible.

Connect with Erin

www.mabelyq.com

www.facebook.com/MabelyQ

www.linkedin.com/company/mabely-q

www.twitter.com/AccessibilityME

www.instagram.com/mabely_q/

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

Click here for the transcribed version of this podcast.

046: A Complete Guide to Creating Your First Online Course.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:43:01 +0000

With Emily Walker

Creating an online course.

By now you’ve definitely heard about it being a lucrative way to supplement your income, but how do you even get started creating an online course and how do you know it is even for you? Today we’re going to cover why you can be an educator, how you can create your first course, how you choose the right topic, and all the nitty gritty in between.

I created my first course in April 2017, Beginner Photography Mastery, and since then I have created Product Photography Mastery. At the time of this recording I’ve taught over 4500 paid students through my courses. And that number grows daily. In fact I expect it will be close to 10 thousand students by the summer of 2021. I can't begin to tell you how exciting and rewarding it is to know that I have reached this many people with my photography teachings.

Before I go any further, I want to say that I can practically hear your objections and inner mean girl through my podcast booth saying: Kelly, I am NOT an expert in anything, what could I possibly even teach? Heck, I’m already an imposter and the thought of charging money to teach something is such a farce.

Oh inner mean girl, how she tries so hard to protect your ego, but here’s the thing, she also gets it all wrong because she holds you back from your full potential. By the way, I thought all of those things too and I sometimes still do. Who am I to teach photography to the masses? I mean, I learned most of what I know from Google University. But if I listened to that negative little voice over 4000 people wouldn't be nailing their photography right now and things like this podcast wouldn’t exist either, and I think that would be so sad for us. Am I right?

So, I wanna say to you that you already have the knowledge, know how and expertise in something, and there are people out there who would happily pay you to teach them what you know. What you take for granted as day to day stuff that you do so easily may not come as easily to everyone else. So before you start thinking that you have nothing you can teach, I want to challenge you to dig a little deeper into that mindset. Start thinking about the things that people ask you to show them, things that people turn to you for. Maybe it’s how you get your kids to sleep so effortlessly every night. Maybe it’s your epic candied apple recipe. Maybe it’s how to set up a WordPress blog. I’ve seen online courses on things as simple as learning to can vegetables! I have recently enrolled in a course where I learned how to make animated gifs for my business. The possibilities are endless and there are literally limitless ideas that would make for a successful online course ranging from super simple to more in depth.

Today’s guest, Emily Walker, works with her clients everyday to navigate the mindset blocks and processes of creating and launching online courses. She is going to uncover everything you need to know to get started from what to include in your course lessons and how to strategically put it out into the world.

Emily is a wealth of knowledge and she has helped so many lucky students make an online course a success in their businesses and I just know that after listening to today’s episode, you will be full of ideas and raring to get started with YOUR very own online course. So if putting your own online course out into the world is something you’ve been pondering, well today’s episode is especially for you!

In this episode, Emily talks about

The difference between growing your business and scaling your business. 5:43
Where to start when you are thinking of scaling your business (hint: focus on the transformation). 7:04
How knowing your people well, what they need and their pain points, will influence how you design a workshop, program, or course. 8:41
The two key secrets to developing the perfect program. 10:01
How to build up anticipation and get your program out into the world. 12:29
What to do when you have already put out content and was met with crickets. 15:50
The secret to a successful launch. 18:03
Tips and tricks to create a quality and engaging course - design and mechanics (done is better than perfect). 21:03
Best practices around pricing your course. 23:31
Examples of low ticket, strategic, and signature types of courses. 25:38
Getting unstuck with an existing course offering and put it back to work for you. 28:14
Common mistakes people make when they are putting their content out there. 31:37
How Emily landed herself in the position to teach people how to create effective courses - taking what is in your head and creating a transformation learning experience. 33:28
Getting past the old mindset block and embracing your unique magic - who are you NOT to be teaching your course?! 34:36
Launching like a pro and making it fun! 36:34
Shift away from the mindset that selling is inconvenient to people, you are offering a solution that people want and that is okay. 38:20
Overview of sales tools for selling your course and having a successful launch. 40:48

If you are just starting, connect with your people. People that are going to be an excellent fit for the program your are going to create, people you know are your dream audience. Chat with them and find out what is going on in their world, what problems are they having, what questions do they have and really connect with them.

Emily Walker

So there you have it, Emily’s very best tips for creating your very own online course and how to set yourself up for success so that your digital course can reach the masses and become a repeatable income stream for you well into the future. It has been a very effective way for me to drive profits in my business without needing to drive a lot of extra time. And it has enabled me to reach THOUSANDS of photography students, which would never have been possible in the non-digital world.

I hope my chat with Emily has left you feeling inspired about what creating a course could do for you and your business. And before you move on with your day, I want you to go write down some course ideas and set some goals for yourself... Then keep those promises and do the work. This type of business venture is so easy to push aside because it will not be screaming for your attention, but hopefully, after listening to today's show, you have a better understanding of the potential impact it can have on your business and on your future students.

So, set the goals, put them in your calendar and be accountable to yourself. Okay? Okay.

Thank you again for tuning into yet another episode of the workshop weekly podcast, and head over to Instagram and let me know what course you are thinking about creating. Telling the world is a very important early step in the process, and make sure you tag me so I can cheer you on, and maybe become your student!

Until next week my friend, bye for now.

Connect with Emily

www.emilywalker.com

www.facebook.com/modernleadersco

www.instagram.com/modernleadersco

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

045: How to Create an Unforgettable Customer Experience.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 21:56:10 +0000

With Desola Davis

Today I am chatting with my new business bestie Desola Davis all about how to create an unforgettable client experience in your business. You might be delighted to discover that it doesn't necessarily need to cost you anything extra.

The customer journey can be described as the path a customer follows as they venture from being a complete stranger, to ideally, your biggest fan. From their first time hearing about your business, to the end of their relationship with you, and everything in between. As you can imagine, this might include social media, a blog post, a phone call, a visit to your store or scheduling a session to receive your services, right through to what happens after you walk away from each other. A customer journey includes each and every touchpoint from beginning to end and collectively makes up the customer experience.

Really dialing into what your customers are experiencing at each and every stage can truly be very insightful and also your most effective path to business success. Here’s the thing, mapping out your complete customer journey is a surefire way to identify shortfalls and therefore revenue loss in your business, and it is also VERY often overlooked. I mean, I’ll bet you can already think of a handful of examples where as a customer, you had an amazing experience in some areas, and then other things fell flat, and you’re left wondering if the business owner has ever taken a walk in their customer’s shoes. Maybe you had a great experience all the way through, but then you never heard from the business owner again.

It seems like a lot of ground to cover, but guess what? Understanding the customer journey (and overall customer experience) isn’t as tricky as you might think it is once you get organized. This is exactly why Desola is here today to walk you through getting started with customer journey mapping in your business.

So, if serving your customers to the very best of your ability is important to you, today’s episode is one that you DEFINITELY don't wanna miss!

In this episode, Desola talks about:

Helping online coaches and creates design a delightful online experience. 3:41
Focusing on your best customers (80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your customers!). 4:15
The relationship involved in sales and how to build trust to advance to a sales "marriage". 5:13
The difference between relationship building online and physical products, and what that looks like (hint, it involves feelings). 6:13
The way you deliver the transformation of your product is the prop, how to sell the journey and convey these transformations to the world. 10:11
How to get started gathering effective customer testimonials. 14:45
Examples of the types of questions that potential customers (or prospects) have at the beginning of the journey. 17:49
Strategically extracting valuable testimonial information from the people you work with. 20:18
How to build testimonials into your system... before it is too late. 22:42
The importance of timing in gathering the best testimonials and having a community to allow people to share, fostering this culture 24:49
Where your testimonials should live. 27:13
How everything you are doing in your products suite should align with your story that you want to tell. 31:42
Timing is everything! 35:47

If you already have a product, identify what that quick win for your customer is... once you figure that out, you can share content with your audience and overcome objections for your prospects. Figure out what that quick win is, then you have a place to go.

Desola Davis

See? Desola is awesome. She has this all figured out - and I wish for all of us to have a little bit of her insight into our businesses.

Getting to know the customer journey is about nurturing and refining the customer experience. Along the way, customers will interact with your various touchpoints, such as an ad or your website. Once you’re in the customer mindset, you can map out your touchpoints, which likely include: social media reviews, your website, your customer service team if applicable, and the super important follow-up customer feedback surveys. So investing time into understanding your businesses customer journey and going through the process yourself will help you see where you can identify weak spots, make improvements and perfect your customer’s experience so that they just keep coming back for more and more.

If you really like this show, please consider recommending it to your business besties and leaving a review on iTunes. It really helps us to keep delivering this show as a free resource to you week after week.

Until next week, workshop warrior, keep honing your wonderfully positive customer journey so they keep coming back for more. Bye for now.

Connect with Desola

https://www.desoladavis.com

https://instagram.com/desoladavis

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

044: Wondering if You Need a Business Coach? Hit Play.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:57:19 +0000

With Lee Chaix McDonough

Running a business can be compared to riding a rollercoaster. One day you are productive and you know exactly what to do to move the needle in your business, the next day you’re lost and discouraged and left wondering if you should just throw in the towel in on the whole thing.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

And no matter what level you are at in your business or what juncture you find yourself on that roller coaster ride, at some point you will find yourself standing in one place thinking to yourself, “I am not sure what to do next.”

Hiring a business coach can help you find your way out of these kinds of ruts, and it can also help you to set goals, be accountable to someone other than yourself or your team, it can help you deal with overwhelm and it can also certainly lead you to develop new skills.

But knowing whether or not you need a coach, or if you are even ready to hire a business coach is a whole other question. That’s why my guest, best selling author and founder of Coach with Clarity, Lee Chaix McDonough, is here today to help you decide if coaching is right for you. In today’s episode Lee will help you to better understand the world of business coaching, she’ll walk you through how to know if you are ready for coaching, where to begin your search and what to look for in a business coach.

I’ll add this: Research by the International Coach Federation has found that, of small business owners who hired a business coach, 70% have seen increased work performance, 86% have seen a return on investment and an impressive 99% of entrepreneurs were happy that they made the decision to hire a business coach. So before you click away because you think this is just another business expense that you don’t want to add. You may want to listen in today because dodging a business coach could be costing you business growth.

So without further ado, let’s dive in to today’s episode.

In this episode, Lee talks about

How this psychotherapist made the leap to business coach.
Putting your uncertainly aside - why you need a business coach.
Defining businesses coaching - The Three Elements.
Questions to ask yourself to determine if you need a business coach.
How to create the magic container in scheduled coaching sessions and still allow for creative space.
What working with a coach looks like.
Three M's: Meaning, Mindset, and Mindfulness.
Working around mindset, how we relate to our own internal experiences.
Why we tend to self sabotage and how to fight the natural instinct to play it safe.
Meaning - aligning your business with your values.
What you should look for in a business coach, where do you begin?
Coaching certification... is it necessary?
Coaching claims - the red flags to watch out for when you are looking for a coach.
Act on your Business- Braving the storms of entrepreneurship and creating success through meaning, mindset, and mindfulness.
How to get started.

Ask yourself how you are doing in terms of achieving your goals (do you know what they are?) and how it is going in the process of achieving them? How are you feeling about it? Taking a personal assessment of where you are at in your journey (without shame), and check in with yourself. If there is a disconnect, that might be a sign that checking into coaching is your next step.

Lee Chaix McDonough

I loved chatting with Lee. She is just so articulate and she really seems to get the process.

A business coach is someone who can prop YOU up, ask you intelligent and strategic questions to get you thinking about your own business and business goals in a new way. A good coach will challenge your self-defeating beliefs and give you the tools you need to push them aside so that you can stay focused on your priorities.

Hiring a business coach may be just the solution you need to start your business or to improve the one you already run. If you find yourself feeling stuck, a business coach can help you work through the processes in a systematic way to take your business wherever you want it to go. Yes it’s an investment, but maybe it will unearth new returns for you.

To check out any of the resources we mentioned today including how to get in touch with Lee, or to begin the search for your next business coach, please visit the show notes at kellylawson.ca/043. Remember, you can't contain the sky, nor can you even get there if you’re too busy standing in your own way.

Until next week my friends. Bye for now.

Mentioned in this Podcast

International Coaching Federation

Book: Act on Your Business

Coach with Clarity Podcast

ICF Find a Coach

Connect with Lee

https://www.instagram.com/coachwithclarity/

https://www.facebook.com/coachwithclarity

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lcmcdonough/

https://www.coachwithclarity.com/

A note from our sponsors:

If you’re looking to elevate your business or brand photos using your smartphone or any other photo-taking device, I don’t want you to miss out on my most downloaded free resource.

043: Reflections From a Dumpster Fire Year.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 13:42:01 +0000

With Kelly Lawson

In honour of this completely whacked year (and because it’s the holidays) I thought I’d do something a little different for this week’s episode. In a year where everything felt like a lot, I thought I’d pare it down. So, there will be no ads, no hook, no music. Just a simple message from me to you.

So get cozy, grab a tea or an eggnog and put your feet up for a change. You deserve it. Hoo boy, do you ever.

OK, so this crazy year is almost over, and maybe you can’t wait to see 2020 in your rearview mirror. My friend, I can totally relate. I am so ready to move on.

And yet… let’s not be too hasty. I think that even in stressful times – especially in stressful times – we need to take stock. We need to pause and reflect. And so I want you to take this moment to think about all that you've accomplished this year.

Now, I’m not talking about epic wins. I’m thinking more about survival skills. And it doesn’t need to be about business. Maybe your accomplishment is the times you did something good for yourself, like going for a walk when you felt like you couldn’t be trapped in the house another minute. It could be a new piece of software that you mastered as our entire lives moved online. Maybe it’s the fact that you kept your business alive during a pandemic. Or that you learned some wonderful new domestic skills, like how to knit or make sourdough or garden. Maybe your biggest accomplishment this year was keeping your family intact through really challenging times.

Whatever it is, I want you to hold this accomplishment in your mind for a moment.

And if you’re struggling to come up with anything, let me help you out because you're missing the biggest accomplishment of them all:

you survived a pandemic.

Now, if you’re anything like me, your brain probably goes directly to all those things you thought you’d do but didn’t. You’re seeing your goals list from last January and picturing all the unchecked boxes.

I get it, I really do. But this is not productive or even fair to yourself. And so I’m reminding you- as I have to remind myself- that you might not have knocked every item - or even most of the items off of your to-do list.

And that is OK. It really is. I want you to give yourself grace and permission to release the unrealized dreams, the unanswered wishes, or the unmet goals. You’re here, listening to this. You’ve tuned into this podcast at least a time or two this year, you managed your life and your bills and your children and you’re here to tell the tale and that, my friend is worth celebrating.

When I started this podcast back in the spring I knew I wanted the content to be equal parts mindset and action. What I never expected was how deep and impactful the mindset shows would be, when we covered topics like imposter syndrome, scarcity mentality, how to face your biggest fears, how to cope with uncertainty and how to be a good ally.

Beyond all the expert advice, the handy tips and tricks, above all else, I know you showed up here because you’re working on a dream. That despite everything 2020 has thrown your way you haven’t given up.

I am proud of you. And I hope you know that you have to keep going.

Because, whether you’ve listened to every episode three times over or just caught the occasional show, you probably know by now my key message is to keep taking imperfect action.

Perfect is the enemy of progress.

So don't be afraid to do it wrong. Don't be afraid of failure. Just make a decision and take an intentional action, no matter how tough things can get. The truth is, even the most successful among us need to show up, and some days it's gonna feel like squaring a circle, but remember on those days it’s just about putting one foot in front of the other.

So are there decisions that you are sitting on? Did covid put your life on hold? Does imposter syndrome have you procrastinating? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I want you to close out this year by making a commitment to yourself to keep going. I want you to proceed by promising to make a decision and take an action even when things get tough. This is how you grow. This is how you progress no matter what gets thrown your way. This is how we come out of 2020 on top. Stronger. More confident. More resilient.

This is how we salvage goodness from this year that was often, frankly, pretty shitty.

I won't sugar coat that. When March happened and everything went into lockdown, including my business and all my revenues, I was not, ah, taking it in stride. After years of building my business from the ground up, suddenly it felt like I was back at square one.

And I gotta tell you, it was really scary. In a few ways. I was worried about finances, of course, but also just wondering if and how I’d ever bounce back, or if my clients would return. Honestly, I went into a pretty big panic spiral. And that scarcity mentality that I had been working so hard to overcome, came barging back in.

And you know what happened? I made mistakes, I said yes to things that I would have otherwise said no to. I dropped balls. I lost my focus. I behaved like a human under stress does. Imagine that!

But it wasn’t all bad. Not at all. Afterall, this podcast was born. I reached you. Our perspectives shifted and we grew together. And in hindsight, there isn’t one single thing that I regret about that.

And now, as we enter into the holiday season with all this growth and new perspective, I think there’s beauty in that. We might not all be physically sitting at the same table this holiday season, but let’s use whatever energy we have toward a different kind of holiday, to channel the quote-unquote real meaning of Christmas, to take the opportunity to ground or centre ourselves.

As a non-religio, Christmas to me means a time to collectively put away all our differences, our work, our stresses, our judgements for just a day (and a night, let's not underrate Xmas eve) and "be together."

This year, that togetherness feels more important, but also more challenging than ever. I mean, you know this, it’s a reality we are all living.

And while being together in the same room isn’t possible, I think the feeling of togetherness is. So let’s be creative and big-spirited about what that means this year. Let’s give ourselves and each other permission to do things differently this year. To find joy in connecting with those you love however you can, safely.

I’ve been jotting down some ideas I have on how to make this holiday feel abundant and fulfilling. I’m happy to share them, and I’d love to hear your plans, too, so be sure to DM me with yours.

Ok, so what about doing a virtual holiday dinner or brunch? If you can be together you can still break bread together. Coordinate a time, and put the laptop down on the table and Zoom it up. Heck, leave it on all day if you just want to have that feeling of ‘being together.’ Put your father in law in the washroom for 45 minutes for added effect :P Or is that just my family? Ah, gotta love em.

Here’s a mindset one: Look for the silver linings. I mean, if nothing else, this dumpster fire year is the perfect opportunity to reinvent the holidays. For me, that means dropping the spending and picking up the connecting.

So, If you have the means to do so, consider giving to those who don't have the basics instead of beefing up what's under your own tree. Consider donating to your favourite charities. If you have school-aged kids, reach out to their schools to see if there are families in your community in need. Remember, this year was reeeally hard for you, but it was probably much harder for someone else. It’s our duty as humans to look after one another. I know you’ll agree. I will link some of my favourite charities in the show notes to make this easy for you. But I know you probably already have a plan to give back up your sleeve, and that is why I love you so much.

Finally, I’d like to say thank you for being a loyal listener. While looking for highlights from 2020, and I know it might feel like you need to dig deep, don't forget to add this podcast to your list. If it wasn't for 2020, I wouldn't be speaking these words into your earbuds right now and if this is the only good thing that has come of 2020, that’s definitely good enough for me right now.

So thank you, dear listeners. Wishing every single one of you a wonderful holiday. I can’t wait to meet you back here the first Monday of 2021. Some great charities if you are drawing a blank:

First Steps

Coverdale Center for Women

Canada's Best Charities 2020 -MacLean's

042: Need More Online Sales? Here’s Your SEO Strategy.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:33:00 +0000

With Danielle Gagnon

SEO. Or SE Oh no!

SEO or Search Engine Optimization... You hear this acronym all the time. You see ads for it and you likely get spammed about it. But what does it really mean for your business? For starters, SEO is the beast that you need to slay if you want your website to be found in a deep dense sea of websites and algorithms.

Best case scenario, your website will be seen AND it will rank high so that it doesn’t end up on page three of the google search results where all websites go to die.

If you’re already feeling lost, don’t worry, by the end of this episode you will not only fully understand what I just said, but you will also have an action plan to improve it.

SEO is one of those topics. I’ve covered it on the show before, but its importance isn't going away anytime soon. Think of it like this: if your website is your car, SEO is the gas you put in it. So if you haven't been gassing up your website, this is your friendly reminder that your online assets can only go as far as you fuel them. I would say by now you’re likely ready for a top up?

The Google algorithm ranks our pages with over 200 different criteria, trying to nail all of those would totally be a full time job, and I already know you’ve got more important things to do.

That’s why my guest, Danielle Gagnon is here today to give it to you straight and tell you what SEO actions will actually move the needle, how can you rank ahead of your competitors online, what you should be focusing on when it comes to SEO and what you can ignore.

Danielle Gagnon is an SEO ninja obsessed with helping small business owners turn their passion into profit online. Danielle is the founder of the Content Cash Machine, a 5-day online SEO bootcamp for entrepreneurs where she helps business owners learn how to grow their business online through simple, actionable search engine optimization strategies.

She’s breaking it all down for you in today in a super digestible way, so by the end of this episode, you will have a clear game plan, a simple effective strategy and easy action steps you can take, to get your page SEEN by the people who you want to see it.

Are you ready? Let’s dive in to your SEO strategy.

In this episode, Danielle talks about

Her journey into the realm of SEO and how she uses it to help her clients be discovered online. 6:36
The amazing results that clients experience when they take the dive into integrating smart SEO practices. 8:29
How SEO concepts can help you be discovered on other platforms. 10:59
Recap: What actually IS SEO? 12:19
Understanding your baseline analytics is key to understanding the progress you make when implementing an effective SEO system - the best kind of before and after picture! 13:30
Talking the time to really understand your ideal client is key to knowing how they will search for you (sound familiar?). 17:30
Effective keyword research using the words your clients actually use (stop with the jargon!). 19:54
What do the search bots really want? 27:32
Pro Tip: How to name your files and images to optimize searchability. 31:14
How blogging can boost your SEO. 32:43

One of the things I always like to recommend that people do is a little competitor research. It is always surprising to me how people rarely spend any time looking at their direct competitors and their website... go to their website and see what they are doing right.

Danielle Gagnon

Ok, so it’s not as crazy complicated as you might have originally thought right? I really love the idea of just taking frequently asked questions or checking out the “people also ask” section of google and writing a post for each of those. Heck you are probably already answering these questions everyday in your business anyway. Next time, pop on the dictation tool on your phone and record it into a word doc, then have someone format it later. It doesn't have to take you a ton of time and it doesn't have to be complicated.

I love that Danielle broke it down in a way that was super digestible and actionable so that you can get to work refining your SEO strategy and ramping up the likelihood that you will be found by your dream clients in their Google searches.

I am grateful I got to hang out in your earbuds, or your car stereo or your google mini, or however you are tuning in today. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate you so much. So until next week, go clean up that alt-text on your site okay? Okay. Bye for now.

Resources

Get started with Google analytics, Google Keyword Planner, and Ubersuggest.

Connect with Danielle

www.elevatevirtualmarketing.com

www.instagram.com/elevate_marketing

www.facebook.com/elevatevirtualmarketing

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041: Goal Setting for 2021 and How This Year Will be Different.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 19:03:35 +0000

With Robyn Walker

Goal setting. You either love it or hate it. But either way, I think we can all agree that no matter what goal setting looks like for you right now in your business, you likely wouldn't be where you are today without it, and similarly, you’d be headed nowhere without it as well. That is precisely the opposite of what I want for you my friend.

There is so much power behind strategic planning for your business, and also for your life, and this episode applies to both.

2020 has been hard on us. It threw in a lot of curve balls and plot twists, and if we’ve learned anything from this dumpster fire of a year - it’s that resiliency rules. And at the heart of resiliency is your ability to actually set goals you will stick with, define your path, be adaptable and make changes based on the needs and desires of your ideal customer at any given moment. Keeping your finger on the pulse of those you are serving, staying motivated and being a strategic goal setter will set you on the path to success in big ways - no matter what gets thrown at you.

And today’s guest Robin Walker of Women’s Business Workshop (.com) is here to show you the way, to teach you how you can stay motivated and on top of your goals. She’s here to tell you to NOT throw away your annual planner just yet, that 2020 has actually taught us a bunch and how we can use this knowledge to make 2021 a massive success.

I loved chatting with Robin, and I think if you’re feeling a little wary of what 2021 might throw your way, this is just the episode for you. I’m so excited to help you prep for the year ahead. 2021 here we come, let’s dig in to this week’s episode!

In this episode, Robyn talks about:

How real life experiences of being a mom and struggling with balance inspired her work to share productivity tips and motivation hacks. 5:36
What to try when you lack motivation and stay motivated (Hint: it isn't more coffee). 6:54
Breaking down daunting activities into bite sized pieces and avoiding costly distractions. 8:17
The top motivations suckers and how to get unstuck when you get caught up in them. 11:33
How having multiple action steps and to-do's to pick from can help you keep moving the needle a head... even when you don't feel like it. 13:29
Time audits and why you need to do one and how it well help you plan out your week to be most productive. 15:09
Goal setting in pandemic times (yes you can!). 23:11
Strategies for quarterly planning. 25.32
How to plan around unpredictability. 27:17
Why now is the best time to revisit the needs of your ideal client and readjust as needed. 29:31

Try to start training yourself to focus on one thing. Pick one thing you will work on today that will take you less than an hour, write it on a post it and put it on a laptop and put away you big list.

Robyn Walker

I loved chatting with Robin. I think she does an amazing job taking the scary out of goal setting, and keeping it simple. Sit down and figure out where you want to be at the end of 2021, personally and professionally and back pedal from there to figure out the exact steps it will require. Then, figure out what you need to do that quarter, month, week, and day to get there. Give yourself nuggets, 15-20 minute tasks to accomplish. Tell yourself you just need to do the thing you dread for 5 minutes. Grab an accountability partner to hold your shoes or fancy bottle of champagne. Pay attention to the needs of your customer and be strategic with your goals. When you know where you are heading, why you are heading there, and what you need to do to get there - everything seems so much less daunting.

When you have your vision, you have a purpose. When you have a purpose you will have intention, and that's where the real motivation comes in. And this relates to every aspect of life.

So, dont be afraid to dream. Dont be afraid to fail. Just start because it is from there that you are truly able to learn and grow. If you dont start, well, learning and growing arent an option for you. So, here is your permission to dream ridiculously big in 2021.

And, as always thank you again so much for joining me for yet another episode of the workshop weekly podcast. I hoped you learned a whole lot and you are left feeling motivated to tackle whatever 2021 tosses your way. I dont know about you, but I feel like after living through 2020 we can handle just about anything life throws at us.

For more on today’s episode including how to connect with Robin and grab her freebie, visit the shownotes at kellylawson.ca/041, and I will see you next week for another action packed episode. Bye for now.

Resources

Your period has everything to do with your productivity! Episode 023 of The Workshop Weekly Podcast talks about understanding our cycle and planning accordingly.

Not enough hours in a day? Episode 021 of the Workshop Weekly Podcast features time management guru Elaine Shannon!

Need a refresher on understanding your ideal client? Check out Episode 004 of The Workshop Weekly Podcast!

Connect with Robyn

https://www.womensbusinessworkshop.com

https://www.instagram.com/womensbusinessworkshop/

https://www.facebook.com/womensbusinessworkshop

https://www.womensbusinessworkshop.com/wbwpodcast

Check Out Today's Sponsors

DIGITAL PR SCHOOL --> www.crystalrichard.com Save 15% on the price of enrollment when you use promo code WORKSHOPWEEKLY

The 4 Step Framework for Creating Product Photos That SELL. Register now at kellylawson.ca/freemasterclass

040: Three Pandemic Proof Ways to Bring in an Extra $1000 This Month.

Kelly Lawson — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:01:18 +0000

With Kelly Lawson

What would an extra thousand dollars mean to you this month? Rent? Car payment? Stay home with your kids more? Accelerate your debt payoff? Speed up your savings or investments? Go on that fun weekend getaway you’ve been dreaming of?

Let me guess: the holidays are making you skittish about cashflow, covid drained your savings, and you’re looking for ways to earn a few extra bucks before the end of the year. Well, that is totally do-able. In this week’s episode of the Workshop Weekly Podcast, I’m giving you three simple ways to make more money- and I promise, you don’t need a degree in finance or an investment magic wand to make it rain. Nope, just simple, actionable steps you can literally take today to add a little cold hard cash to the ole bank account.

Making an extra thousand dollars is more attainable than you probably think. And to help you hit the cash runway without delay, I’ve broken each of my three ideas into three simple steps so that you can get started TODAY. By following just one step per week, three short weeks from now, you’ll be on your way to an extra four figures this month. Cha-ching!

The biggest thing to know and believe is that you don't have to over-complicate it. I’m giving you permission to keep it simple. That means finding the simplest possible way to present your offer and a super-easy way to accept payments. There’s always time to get fancy later. But I do not want tech or process to be a barrier to entry because truly it doesn't have to be!

And I need you to know that these are not your run-of-the-mill, boring money tips like “save more” or skip the Starbucks. These are some different, new and fun ways to add some extra zeros to your bank account. We are talking about everything from how your everyday skills can bring in some more dollabills to making money by recommending or reselling your favourite things.

This isn’t just for the self-employed peeps out there. Even if you have a full-time job, there are things you can do in your spare time to easily pocket a thousand bucks a month.

So, what do you say? Let’s close out 2020 with a nice bonus to ourselves and get set up to make 2021 our best and most profitable year yet!

In this episode, I talk about:

Addressing the negative mindset that keeps you objecting to real opportunities to create an abundant life for yourself! 3:40
Upper Limit Problems (ULP) - why we sabotage ourselves when we reach success and how to stop doing this. 4:26
How to use service related freelancing to bring in some extra cash, and 3 simple steps to get ready for it. 7:02
Making money by teaching a workshop or class, share the skills you have with these 3 steps. 14:11
Open shop! Creating an online shop is easier than ever and here are 3 steps to do just that. 26:04

To drive awareness of your offer and sales, you want to be super intentional with showing up on social media AND showing your face. Yep, you’ve heard me talk about it before, but showing your face in both your stories and feed will allow people to see and get to know you. So not just your voice. Not just your written words. Not just photos of your product and your home decor. I want people to fall in love with you and trust you, so you’ve gotta show up for it!

Kelly Lawson

And there you have it. Three easy ways to make an extra thou this month by following just three easy steps.

Remember, none of this has to be perfect to start. You just need to have a simple way to get the word out about what you’re offering and a way to accept money and fulfill orders. You can learn and tweak and refine things as you go.

And after you do it one time, the best part is you can repeat it again and again, tweaking and pivoting along the way. You could eventually grow your little side gig into a bigger one, to constantly offer it to your people and bring in income consistently. Remember as you build out your systems to include a way to collect feedback so that you are always learning and improving.

In an upcoming episode, I will be chatting with a variety of “side hustlers” to hear their perspective on running a successful side gig. And I want to point out that I use the word side-hustle lightly because if you know me, you already know I don’t love the word hustle… so think of it as a side gig or a side passion if you need to.

For now, I want you to get started today doing those simple things that can easily make a bundle of cool hard cash before this dumpster fire of a year is out.

So just to recap:

Number one, you can freelance your special skills as a service for hire.

Number two: Teach what you know in a workshop, online course or ebook.

And number three: Create an online shop for selling what you make or reselling what others make.

And there you have it. A nice, easy way to fatten your wallet before the year is done. And hey if you give this a try, I wanna know how much richer you are 3 weeks from now, kay? Kay.

I will see you at the same time, same place next week, lovely human!

Resources

The Big Leap - Gay Hendricks.

Freelance Research Questions - some questions you can ask to elicit the kind of magical responses you need.

Why being in a confident mindset matters, check out The Workshop Weekly 001.

Learn more about freelancing, check out The Workshop Weekly 032 with Caley Dimmock.

Check out these platforms to open shop: Shopify, Etsy, Society6

Ingrid Munroe of The NB Box, built a pandemic proof business - learn how!

Check Out Today's Sponsors

DIGITAL PR SCHOOL --> www.crystalrichard.com Save 15% on the price of enrollment when you use promo code WORKSHOPWEEKLY

The 4 Step Framework for Creating Product Photos That SELL. Register now at kellylawson.ca/freemasterclass

039: Using Video to Grow Your Business: How to Show Up With Confidence on Camera.

Kelly Lawson — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:08:32 +0000

With Holly Gillen

If you’re trying to grow a business (and I think that’s why you’re here) you already know that video content is super important. We are constantly getting clear signs every single day that if we’re not using video for our business, we’d better start. And when you sit down and think about it, the recent additions to social media platforms are all video heavy. I mean, just take TikTok or Facebook Live, or Instagrams IGTV, stories and Reels for example. They'll all video centered and social media algorithms heavily prefer live video content so I think we can finally admit that the absence of a video strategy in your business could be costing you serious growth.

But showing up on video is super tough. I am not here to candy coat that. I mean, when I think about that 3,2,1 countdown timer for showing up live, I get a straight up pit in my stomach. I just want to retreat back to the safe land of posting a selfie using my favourite filter or preset, or posting a blog after it’s been reviewed and edited, but video is A LOT harder to show up for because it leaves us feeling exposed, raw and vulnerable.

So today’s guest, Holly G of hollygstudios is here today to help take the scaries out of showing up for your business in this sometimes frightening way. Holly spends her time teaching leading entrepreneurs how to create video content that is purpose driven and strategic. Videos that move your business forward and have a bigger purpose.

Holly is over a decade into creating a thriving business using video and now she has invested herself in teaching others how to rid themselves of the fear and mindset blocks that can come with needing to show up on video, especially live video, in your business. She also has a program called VIDEO MADE EASY, and she refers to it as not just video for your business, but business cinema, so I knew she was the perfect guest to come on and talk to you about video today.

And I gotta say, Holly brings so much energy and actionable advice to the table that today’s show is a real treat. So if you’ve been hearing about the massive benefits of using video to grow your business but you have no idea what to do or how to get started, well, you are in the right place my friend.

So without further ado, let’s roll film! Or, hit record, or whatever. Haha.

In this episode, Holly talks about:

Her journey to becoming a video guru... annnnnd ACTION! 3:48
Why showing up on video is so important for your business. 7:33
The difference between video content traditional content such as blogs and photos. 8:46
The impressive longevity of video content and why is pleases the algorithm gods. 10:58
Tackling your fear of showing up live (yikes!). 12:24
How your FAQ's can be a goldmine for video content ideas. 15:58
The Four Pillars of Pre-Production. 16:19
All you need to know about tech and equipment for quality videos (and it isn't as much as you would think!). 19:34
Video length best practices. 22:52
The Thriller-Filler-Spiller Formula 24:31
How to get the most use of your video content by repurposing. 26:43
The logistics of backgrounds, branding, and other videos to speak to your audience. 29:58
Common mistakes people make when showing up on video. 35:38
Mastering your mindset - dealing with naysayers. 39:55

If you are not already doing video, start with the Four Pillars of Pre-Production. If you are already making videos and want to make better videos, focus on creating the best possible content you can create right here, right now.

Holly Gillen

Okay, I hope you’re feeling empowered to just walk away from this episode and hit record on your camera. And I gotta say, I just love the way Holly shows up on video, and her approach. When I watch her video content I truly feel as though I am sitting down to chat with a friend, and Holly truly is just the best kind of human. And I don't know about you - but video is just one of those things that I think I fear as much as death haha. Not to get too dark there.

I know I need video but it’s just one of those things that easily gets pushed to the very bottom of the todo list. I've been working on it, and let me just say, I will lead you on how to show up when you aren't ready, or imperfectly with this one. And I gotta say, video is the only type of content that will truly let your personality shine through, and that at the end of the day is what makes you, well, uniquely YOU.

I really hope that after this episode I will get to see your face online... with your video content!

Until next time workshop warriors, keep showing up imperfectly, because that is where all good things start!

Bye for now.

Resources

Revolab Microphone mentioned in the podcast as well as ring lights are great tech to add to your toolkit to up your video game.

The Rule of Thirds is one of the first things a photographer (or a videographer) learns. You may recognize this grid if you have a professional camera but you can even enable it to show up on your smartphone!

Essentially, the rule is that your eyes tend to be drawn to the intersections of the grid. By placing subjects of interest at those intersections, you can be assured that your image is balanced and had a pleasing composition.

Creating Graphics with Canva: Part 1 and Part 2

Design your set! Check out this Pinterest Board for inspiration!

Connect with Holly

https://www.hollygstudios.com

https://www.facebook.com/hollygstudios

https://www.instagram.com/hollygstudios/

https://www.youtube.com/hollygstudios

https://www.pinterest.ca/hollygillen/_created/

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038: Could Publishing a Book be Your Next Big Business Move?

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 10:53:05 +0000

With Julie Anne Eason

Today we are digging into how to write a book for your business with the amazing Julie Anne Eason. This amazing woman helps business people write and publish world-changing books that Inspire, Educate, and Sell.

She is an author, speaker, and CEO of Thanet House Books—a boutique book production company that helps people through the entire process from early book development through writing, publishing, and distribution.

She has ghostwritten multimillion-dollar books for thought leaders and influencers such as Russel Brunson in a wide variety of industries, including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best sellers.

Julie Anne’s passion is helping mission-driven entrepreneurs and subject matter experts change the world through written word. And she is here to tell you that writing your first book will not only do really good things for your business, your thought leadership and your credibility, but also that it is not as hard and time consuming as you probably think it is. I mean, she wrote a book for a locksmith in just one week, and she totally made me wanna write a book for my business too.

Julie Anne is a wealth of knowledge and I hope she will get you as excited as she got me about the process of becoming a published author. So, let’s dig in!

In this episode, Julie talks about:

How a book can help grow your business (even if you give it away)
Getting started with writing (and how to actually finish) your first book
How to use the knowledge you already possess to drive demand for your message, your products, or services
Why is writing a book one of the best investments a person can make in their business
Where do you start when you have a million ideas for books you could write
How to overcome writer’s block?
How long it takes to write and publish a book.

You need to decide that you are going to do it and you need to decide to do it right. Understand that it is not as big of a task as you think it is. You have the time.

Julie Anne Eason

Isnt Julie fascinating? Her passion certainly translates and there is something to be said about a person who is devoted to helping others achieve their biggest dreams and goals in their own lives and in their own business. I mean, Julie is top notch!

I loved hearing about the difference between self-publishing and having a publisher and the fact that writing a purpose driven book should really come from the outside in.

Just think about where you could be one year from now if you gave yourself just a few hours per week to work toward this!

And now, my ask from you is this: go look Julie up online. Check out the books she’s published and all of her free resources that she has on the market for getting you that much closer to adding published author to your resume.

Once again - thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of the Workshop Weekly Podcast. And hey, if you like the show, a review on iTunes goes a long way.

T'il next week, bye for now.

Connect with Julie

ThanetHouseBooks.com

NonfictionBookAcademy.com

Linkedin.com/julieanneeason/

Facebook.com/ThanetHouseBooks

Twitter.com/bizbookwriter

ThanetHouseBooks.tv

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037: Thinking of Hiring a Virtual Assistant? Listen to this.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 13:07:57 +0000

With Teri McMackin

When you start out in business, you are doing it all: the emailing the scheduling the order fulfillment the social media, the money stuff and so much more. It’s a straight up recipe for burnout. And besides that, usually the reason that we get into entrepreneurship in the first place is in the pursuit of freedom and happiness and flexibility. Well, when you’re doing all the things in our business, it can certainly feel like a bit of a ripoff.

And that’s why the first hire for so many business owners is the gentle step of hiring a virtual assistant or a VA. Someone who can take on some of those daily tasks that occupy so much of your time, but that dont need to be done by you.

A virtual assistant (VA) is any form of remote help that you contract to hand off your workload. They can operate anywhere in the world, have multiple clients, and can be hired to take on a variety of your day-to-day tasks.

Hiring a virtual assistant is like having that extra pair of hands that you know you need to keep your business running smoothly, without the intimidating commitment of hiring a full time employee. Hiring a VA means that you can find exactly the right person to do one thing that they are very skilled at, so that you can take a step back. And by the way, for all those things in your business that you dont enjoy doing, there is someone out there who is not only very good, and probably better than you at doing it, they also enjoy it!

But knowing where to look and how to get started when hiring a VA can also be an intimidating first step. And that’s why I invited my very own rockstar VA to the show, to give you a little insight and everything you need to know to get started.

Today I am really excited to invite my own partner in crime and virtual assistant (VA), Teri McMackin, to come out from behind the scenes to the front of the scenes to share her advice on all things virtual assistant. Teri has been on my team for awhile now, and without her support, this show and so many other aspects of my business just probably wouldn't happen.

Today, Teri is going to give you her insight into what it looks like to hire a VA, how it works, tips on how to do it successfully, and we’ll share a little bit about what the whole process and journey has looked like for the two of us.

So, if you’re ready to dip your toe into the world of hiring someone to help you, today’s episode is especially for you! And I gotta say, I see a lot of free time in your future, so let’s do this.

In this episode, Teri talks about:

The path that lead her to becoming a VA and what skills she transferred from being an in person assistant. 3:53
Being a VA for Kelly Lawson - podcast behind the scenes! 6:54
Tips and advice for hiring the right VA for you. 10:02
Writing a compelling job description for your VA and how it is different from hiring an employee. 14:00
How to ensure a successful relationship and experience for both VA and employer. 18:36
Setting up your VA for success. 22:06
Where to find a VA and/or help a VA find you. 26:38
What can you expect to pay a VA 28:50
Setting boundaries for work and maintain work life balance. 31:56

Finding a VA is easy, finding the right VA for you and your specific needs will take some work. Ask your friends for recommendations - most VAs have a couple of clients. Start slow and build your relationship of trust... It will pay off!

Teri McMackin

That was so much fun!

I hope you enjoyed meeting Teri and that you feel encouraged and inspired to onboard some hired help in your own business. Whether it’s for social media management, email communication, appointment scheduling, research, data entry or whatever it is that is taking up all or time, or maybe you have something important on your to-do list that you just can't get to, hiring a VA might be your next best big business move.

And hear me, I know it can feel unnatural and maybe even terrifying to let go of things, to trust someone you haven't even met with your precious business, but trust me when I tell you, you can’t grow this way and more importantly you can't achieve work life balance this way either. Hiring some help will allow you to focus on the things that matter most. The things that only you can do, and if you take Teri’s advice, you might be surprised to discover that not many things in your business rely on only you.

For more information on his episode, including links on where to find your next VA or how to get in touch with Teri, visit the shownotes at kellylawson.ca/037.

And until next time workshop warriors, keep on slaying. And hey, if you love this show, I would love to hear from you. Throw down a review on iTunes and let us know that you love what we’re doing so we can keep doing more of it. I love you all. Bye for now.

Resources

Where to find a VA: Job Bank, Career Beacon, Fiverr, Upwork... and ask your friends!

The Workshop Weekly Podcast 025: An Entrepreneur's Guide To Outsourcing

Reach out to Teri at terimcmackin@gmail.com

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036: Dealing With Difficult Clients: A How-To Guide

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 21:58:50 +0000

With Kelly Lawson

Today, we are going to dig into a subject that can make a lot of us feel more than a little uncomfortable: how to deal with difficult clients.

Well, my friends, we’re going to face that challenge head-on, and I’m going to share the practical steps and mindset shifts we need to be making to manage these tough circumstances when they arise, notice I said when not if. I’ll share some of my own experiences and how I’ve evolved my systems for dealing with unhappy customers, haters and other folks who’ve got a gripe.

This is all about getting really good at dealing with adversity, so it doesn’t suck up all your time, energy and money. So, are you ready to talk about the tough stuff? Let’s do this.

In this episode, we talk about:

How to embrace complaints and criticisms as the learning opportunities that they are when you would rather stick your head in the sand.
Separating the legit gripes from the impossible to please types.
Being proactive in your mindset because it is impossible for everyone to like you.
Learning how to manage your emotions.
Managing client expectations and communicating the parameters of your deliverables as a way to mitigate complaints.
How to handle the situation when the customer is NOT right - developing discernment
Finding comfort in the discomfort of growth.
Creating a an efficient process to deal with complaints.
The importance of noting any patterns in your complaints.
Redeeming situations when things have gone off the rails

Unhappy clients can sting a little - but remember we are all only human. Don't let these situations take your focus off of the forward momentum. Be fair, deal with it quickly and move on. And remember, wherever there is an opportunity to delight - do that!

Kelly Lawson

I hope you feel inspired and well equipped for embracing tough customers. Never forget, they are giving you unsolicited market research and a beautiful opportunity to get better, grow, and keep building your empire of awesomeness.

Thank you so much for tuning in to EPISODE 036 of the Workshop Weekly Podcast. I really truly appreciate that I get to hang out in your earbuds or on your car stereo or wherever it is that you are tuning in from week after week. Like it makes me straight up giddy - so thank you for that.

And, I will see you at the same time, same place next week!

Resources

The Workshop Weekly - Episode 18: Your Brand is NOT for Everyone and That's Okay.

The Workshop Weekly - Episode 32: Thinking About Taking the Leap From Full-Time to Freelance? Hit Play. Caley Dimmock talks about having a "Working Together Contract" to set reasonable boundaries and expectations with her clients.

The Workshop Weekly - Episode 25: An Entrepreneurs Guide to Outsourcing

The Workshop Weekly - Episode 016: Are You Legally Protected? Click Play to Find Out.

The Workshop Weekly - Episode 14: How This Entrepreneur Grew a 7-Figure Pandemic Proof Business in Just 2 Years. Guest Ingrid Munroe managed to turn a complaint into a corporate client!

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035: Need to Get That Business Idea Out of Your Head? Follow These Steps!

Kelly Lawson — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 12:04:53 +0000

Dr. Chantel Nicolas

Boundless possibilities are the result of removing yourself from your comfort zone and stepping into a place where you are willing to fail, where you have a healthy disregard for what might seem impossible, AND where you seize every possible opportunity to show up as your most fabulous self.

And if you’re anything like me, you’re thinking up business ideas all the time. But bringing an idea to reality definitely isn't easy.

After all, acting on these crazy entrepreneurial ideas will inject chaos into your life, I’m not here to candy coat that. Taking action will probably throw you off balance. But it is from these places of discomfort that we find what drives us. We leap to exhilarating places, we learn to see problems as opportunities and our confidence for turning problems into solutions is the byproduct that no textbook will ever give you.

But all too often, we get stuck before we ever get started. We have this great idea but little confidence in knowing what steps to take to turn our big ideas into reality.

Well, what if you had a clear set of instructions to help you bring your beautiful ideas to life? A roadmap of sorts? Kinda like a recipe where you take your compelling idea, and with a concrete set of steps, you turn it into something extraordinary.

This is exactly what today’s guest, Dr. Chantel Nicolas is here to help you with. With her initiative, the Nerd Startup Incubator, she is helping early stage entrepreneurs do just that. Get their brilliant ideas out of their heads and into the world. And today, she’s here to show you how you can do the same.

The world is your oyster, so let’s shuck it!

Are you ready to take that beautiful idea of yours out of your head and into the world? Well then, this is JUST the episode for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

The intense mindset shift going from scientist to entrepreneur and the perks that come with an academic mind in the business world.
Brainstorming!
How to make a decision on which one of your awesome ideas to turn into a business.
"Nerd" incubators and how they help entrepreneurs get their ideas into the world.
Where to start when you have a ton of good ideas to chose from?
The 7 steps you need to take to clarify your business idea, create it, and commit to it fully.
How to go from idea to successful launch.
How to gather intel about yourself and understand your personal assets.
Soft and hard skills - what are they and which ones you have in your back pocket.
Matching what you like with what you are good at.
Understanding your potential customers and where to find them.
Selling yourself and making the best use of your snazzy sales skills.
Building a supportive environment around you.

I have created a whole workbook Nerd's Guide to Starting a Side Business. There are worksheets within the workbook that I would love for you to have! A free gift! This is exactly what I did to get to this point.

Dr. Chantel Nicolas

While so many of us have great business ideas, only a tiny few will actually do the work and follow through. And I need you to do me a solid, please don’t let perfectionism or fear stand between you and your dreams. By being methodical and taking the steps that Chantel has given you today, you’ll be able to establish the momentum you need and set yourself up for success. And, here’s my advice: don't forget to celebrate milestones along the way, be on a constant quest to improve and always be nimble and willing to adapt to your market. Most importantly, promise me you’ll at least believe in yourself the way others do.

For more information on today’s episode including how to reach Chantel and her resources, visit kellylawson.ca/035, I hope you enjoyed today’s episode as much as I did, and I will see you next week.

Connect with Dr. Nicolas

nerdstartupincubator.com

instagram/nerdincubator

twitter.com/nerdincubator

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034: Don’t Fear the Tax Man: Here’s How to Crunch Your Business Numbers.

Kelly Lawson — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 12:35:53 +0000

With Donna Mazerolle

Hey. I already know this isn't your favourite topic. I get it. But I think this episode is probably among the most important business topics for us to put on the table.

Far too often we shy away from the numbers, and if shying away from numbers sounds like you, I want today to be the day that you put an end to this fear and finally face it head on. I want you to not only understand the math behind your business, but also I want you to get strategic with it. Because, working for free is just simply not an option if you are in this for the long run, amiright?

If you’re building an empire you need to really know your costs, and your margins, you need to set revenue goals and measure your results. Oh, and you can’t be shy with the tax man either. Because here’s the thing - shying away from the numbers puts you and your business at a very serious risk. So it’s time to stop cringing and start embracing the math.

And hey, there’s the silver lining to this. Once you know your numbers, and get comfortable with them, it will allow you to find clarity and confidence, the kind that will give you the knowledge you need to say “Yes” to the right opportunities, and “No” to the things that might not align with your business goals. And listen, I already know that you could use all the help you can get with that little two letter word, “No.”

So today’s guest, Donna Mazerolle is here to help you navigate your way through all of this. Donna shares her story of needing to overcome her own fears in order to find her way into the world of business accounting, and now she helps business owners just like you face the numbers head on and get on track for success. There are so many tangible tips, strategies, and takeaways from this episode, I am pretty sure it is just the kick in the pants that you probably need. And I am sure that after listening, you will be ready to take that money bull by the horns and shoot for the stars. Are you ready to crunch some numbers? Let’s do this.

In this episode, Donna talks about:

Secrets to overcoming mindset blocks (we all have them).
Helping people understand and define their goals to get to where they want to be in their business.
Common mistakes business owners make when pricing their products and how to fix that.
Competing on value per service NOT price alone.
Needs vs. wants when it comes to big business purchases and and how that effects your bottom line.
How to make big investment decisions with the smallest risk.
The magic formula to know what to pay yourself.
Stretch goals - what they are and how to set one.
Understanding what products bring you the most profit and how to calculate your margins.
The mistake that is discounting your products/services.
How to manage your inventory to put money back into your business.
How to collect your receivables... like a boss!
CRA interactions and how to make the most of them.

Know your numbers! And I don't mean how to do accounting. You need to understand your costs, know what other people are charging and know where you are at the lifecycle of a product and price accordingly. Know what products/services make you money.

Donna Mazerolle

Ah, this conversation with Donna is just so needed. I hope, in the very least, it has left you feeling encouraged to talk about the hard stuff, because it is from doing these tough things that you will grow and succeed.

For more on how to get in touch with Donna, or to find any other resources mentioned in this episode, please visit kellylawson.ca/034 and until next week, keep on slaying your biggest goals. And don't forget, your biggest success will be found on the other side of your fears. So, please don't be afraid to show up imperfectly. Bye for now.

Resources

Check out Donna's best Tax Tips!

Connect with Donna

donnamazerolle.com

www.facebook.com/MDonnaMazerolle

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The 4 Step Framework for Creating Product Photos That SELL

033: How to Grow Your Business with Pinterest

Kelly Lawson — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:23:13 +0000

With Livia Boerger

Ok. It’s finally here. If you’re a regular listener of this podcast, you already know I’ve been preaching for months now that Pinterest has changed the online business game for me. And finally, today, you are going to learn how this beautiful little platform can do the same for you!

Pinterest is an often underestimated and overlooked resource for business owners, and lean in for a sec, because Pinterest could be the perfect place for you to showcase your brand and business to an engaged, niche marketplace that’s ready to spend.

You guys, Pinterest is not just a place for seeking inspiration or great recipes. It is a very powerful business tool. There are over 200 million monthly Pinterest users worldwide, all seeking and sharing helpful, inspiring ideas on the platform, and Pinterest users are action oriented.

Pinterest is not only a super effective place to ramp up your web traffic by sharing that valuable content of yours, but it is also a powerful place to showcase your products and services. Because here’s the thing most people don't consider: Pinterest often acts as an information resource for many users who are preparing to make a purchase.

And Pinterest’s audience has a strong spending power, 40% of Pinterest users have a household income of $100k+, and these pinners are just waiting to be introduced to your products and services.

And today’s guest, Pinterest expert Liv Boerger is here to lay it all down for you. We’re covering everything from getting started with Pinterest for business, to best practices, how to please the algorithm and which current trends you need to be taking advantage of.

So, Are you ready to start putting Pinterest to work for your business and achieving those big dreams of yours? Well buckle up my friend, because your business is sure to shoot toward the sky after taking in today’s episode.

In this episode, Livia talks about:

The basics of Pinterest (it is so much more than recipes!).
How Pinterest is used as a tool for purchasing decisions and how you can influence people with buying power.
Using Pinterest more like a visual search engine than social media platform.
The pros and cons of keeping a personal and business page together or separate.
The science that is KEYWORD usage, making the best use of titles and descriptions for SEO.
Creating presentable and pretty pins that are in line with your brand.
Simple A/B testing with multiple images for the same URL.
Why vanity metrics don't matter and what to watch for instead.
Results you can expect on Pinterest and when to expect them.
The impressive purchasing power of those using the platform.
How to integrate Pinterest with your website to SELL.
The rewards of being a social Pinner.
What to do with under preforming Pins and how to get your content seen.

I really could talk about pinterest all day. It definitely changed things for me when I turned my attention to it about two years ago.

And now, you also have all the tools you need to start driving traffic and making sales from your own Pinterest account.

It’s the perfect place to showcase your brand, business and products to an engaged marketplace with plenty of spending power. And because you took in this episode, you’ve already taken the first step toward a Pinterest account that impacts your bottom line, the thing that really matters - not the vanity metrics.

So what are you waiting for? Just think about where your business will be in three short months if you start Pinning with intention TODAY.

Dont forget to visit the shownotes at kellylawson.ca/033 or kellylawson.ca/pinterest to find liv’s resources to help you get started.

Until next time workshop warrior. Don't be afraid to show up imperfectly and I will see you same time, same place next week! Kay? k.

Do not focus on vanity metrics! Keep your head down and focus on what you are doing to get your link clicks up because that is where the money is.

Livia Boerger

Or click the link: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f6207be84beb90ca4a7dcce

Resources

Canva

Tailwind

Connect with Livia

Madewithlemons.co

instagram.com/madewithlemonsco

pinterest.ca/madewithlemonsco

facebook.com/madewithlemonsco

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The 4 Step Framework for Creating Product Photos That SELL

032: Thinking About Taking the Leap from Full-Time to Freelance? Hit Play.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 09:18:04 +0000

With Caley Dimmock

The 9:00 to 5:00 grind. We all know exactly what it means. It’s been a pretty significant part of the working lifestyle of our parents generation, and our parents parents generation. This type of structured corporate grind has been around for 50 years, I mean Dolly even wrote a song with the handle. But for many millennials and generation zeers, we want something different. Something less rigid, something more adventurous and meaningful. A career that offers a different kind of work life balance, one that truly emphasizes the life part.

And if you are a regular listener of this podcast, you’ve probably either already taken the leap from your 9-5 job, never had a traditional job, or you have at least strongly considered trading it in for something less orthodox. And, don’t worry. I’m not gonna tell your boss.

But, shifting career paths can definitely present challenges, your worst case scenario fears will undoubtedly bubble to the surface and hold you back, despite the opportunity you suspect is waiting for you on the other side. The freedom of being your own boss and setting your own work-life structures is seductive, but getting there often isn't a straight line.

That’s why today’s guest, Caley Dimmock is here to tell you all about how she leaned into her fears of leaving her traditional workplace and took the leap into freelancing. She is here to encourage you with her story of success, and to tell you how you can find your own path to freedom, independence and success as a freelancer.

If you are already a freelancer, a budding entrepreneur or someone who is feeling a little stuck in the 9-5 cycles, Caley’s story will inspire you and her wisdom is sure to set you on the right track. So settle in, I just know, you are going to love this episode.

In this episode, Caley talks about:

Making the move to freelancing full time (yes, YOU can).
Facing your fears head on - everything you want is on the other side of fear.
How you know when it is time to leave your 9:00-5:00.
Working from inspiring places.
Tips to venture into freelancing.
The 4 pillar system to choosing what services you are going to offer.
Becoming great at what you do and building confidence as you do it.
Resources to teach yourself that won't break the bank.
Money! And how to price your services properly (understand your worth).
Getting started building your reputation with case studies and testimonials
The PERFECT testimonial template
Managing and mitigating risks when you make the leap.
The importance of a working together agreement - setting communication boundaries.

I hope Caley’s story and words helped to give you the confidence and clarity that you need if you are considering venturing into the wonderful world of freelancing, or if you are already a freelancer looking to up level your game. And, I want to remind you that you can do this, there is only ONE you and you are fully capable. It’s okay to show up imperfectly, you deserve to chase your dreams, you deserve to invest in yourself, and to set yourself up for success. And, I wanna know how it feels when you can finally say, “I am a freelancer!”, so be sure to tag me on your adventures so I can cheer you on. For more information about Caley, including how to get in touch and for links to her resources, please visit kellylawson.ca/032, and until next week, keep on showing up. Never forget, We grow by taking imperfect action. Bye for now.

Extra goodies from Caley

Pricing Decided - Become a successful freelancer by learning how to confidently set and communicate your rates.

Freelancer Tips - What you need to have on your website to become a successful freelancer.

Connect with Caley

Facebook.com/caleydimmock

caleydimmock.com

instagram.com/cjdimmock/

twitter.com/dimmockcj

Check out today's sponsor!

The 4 Step Framework for Creating Product Photos That SELL

031: Execute Your Next Big Idea With THIS Launch Plan

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 12:22:49 +0000

With Becky Keen

So, you have a big idea, a new service, an event, a product, a website, a program or maybe even a business you want to launch… and you wanna put it out into the world Steve Jobs style… but the truth is, you don't really know how.

And here’s the thing, if it’s not launched well, no one is ever even going to see it. And for that reason, like a tree falling in the woods, if you launch something into the world without building anticipation, will anyone want it? The truth is… probably not.

So it’s pretty important to put some thought behind how you are going to reveal this new thing to your audience that you’ve worked so hard on. No matter what it is that you’re putting to market, you’ll want to start your preparation well ahead of the launch date. And hey, I get it, there are so many moving parts when it comes to launching, busting out your next big idea can definitely be intimidating.

That’s why my guest, Becky Keen is here today to ease your worry, and give you a plan. Becky helps entrepreneurs launch their great ideas into the world. She helps her clients to demystify the process and achieve consistent 5 figure months in their businesses. Oh, and by the way, she does it all and adds some woo.

Are you wondering what woo is?

Well, you're about to find out. Let’s dive in to this week’s episode.

In this episode, we talk about:

What the heck is woo?!? And what does it have to do with your business and wealth?
Making FIVE FIGURES a month (totally possible).
How to claim your revenue goal (with woo).
The plan that the universe has for you and why it is better than you could imagine.
The role of limiting beliefs in limiting your potential both personal and in your business.
The unrealistic expectation of having a plan before you move forward.
LAUNCHING! And what to do if you are met with crickets...
The value of testing, gathering information, and validating your idea in advance.
Pre-sales and the importance of keeping it simple and question goldmine that comes along with it.
How to choose your top 3 ways to launch.
Why some launches fail
The importance of holding space for the actual launch - energy you bring to the launch, is the energy you get back!
The idea of letting go of the outcome to make room for more

One action is to give voice to the negative voices that are in their head. Write out all the things that your mind is telling you about why you cannot. You are going to write them out... "I can never make that money", "no one will buy my thing"... write down the entire list and then you are going to channel Byron Katie (the work) and ask yourself who would you be without those thoughts? If I didn't believe this thought to be true... who would I be without that thought? What else might be possible? What actions would I take from that place.

Becky Keen Resources

The Work of Byron Katie, seriously, check out this link! Of course, you should also check out Becky's 5 Spiritual Ways to Launch and Sell Out Programs (Without Hustle)... FREE MASTERCLASS!!

Ah. Becky is awesome. The energy she brings, the business savvy, the woo. I love it all.

And, I hope her wise words will help you to create hype before you launch something in your business. And above all, I hope this inspires you to put presence over perfection and to save some energy for your upcoming launch. You’re going to need it. And by the way, I promise that when you do this right, you will see a difference to your bottom line.

Until next week my friends!

Connect with Becky

facebook.com/keenbecky

www.beckykeen.com

instagram.com/beck_keen/

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

https://kellylawson.ca/sheertex

Save $40 on your first box with HelloFresh:

https://kellylawson.ca/hellofresh

Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON

https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite

Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

030: Discover Who You Really Are With This Personality Test

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:38:24 +0000

With Krista McNally.

It is the single most interesting and insightful personality test in my humble opinion. What is it? It’s the enneagram. In the most basic terms, the enneagram assessment fits you into one of nine types. Each of these nine types has a unique set of personality traits, strengths, weaknesses, and you guys, it is freakishly accurate. The first time I took the test, my mind was so blown that I started passing the test around to all of my friends and family members, and learning their enneagram types has been an incredibly insightful way to understand their perspective on the world. It’s been over a year now and having this emotional intelligence about the people around me has stuck with me. It’s given me insights into not only myself, and how I am wired, but it’s also given me insight into my relationships with family and friends, my marriage, and also my professional relationships. And while the findings of the enneagram have stuck with me, I’ve also grown a slight obsession with it. I need to tell you that for this reason, it is unlike any of the other personality tests that I have come across.

In this episode a very special guest and enneagram guru, Krista McNally is going to unearth for us the magic of the enneagram, what characterizes each enneagram type, how to discover your type, and how to leverage this knowledge in your business and in your relationships. I’ve linked the enneagram assessment I used in the shownotes, so if you dont already know your enneagram type, head over to kellylawson.ca/030 or kellylawson.ca/enneagram to find out what it is, otherwise sit back and enjoy and you can go find out what your type is after this episode.

You are about 45 minutes away from understanding on a deeper level why you are the person you are, and how this knowledge can transform your life. I am so excited about today’s episode, so without further ado, let’s dive on in.

Here’s the test link → https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test

In this episode, we talk about:

How this personality tool will change your life (seriously).
The difference between enneagram and other personality tests.
What your energy has to do with your personality, habits, and patterns.
Harnessing your enneagram energy to build better relationships.
Practical uses of your enneagram results and how it can help your business improve client relations.
Wings and lines, oh my! Dig into some jargon and learn about all 9 enneagram types.
The history and origin of this personality test and the reason your number is solidified by 7 years old.

Resources

Here are some great reflection questions, but there are many resources so be sure to look around!

Type Compatibility:

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/the-enneagram-type-combinations/

Choosing between two types:

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/36-type-misidentifications

Free test (to use as a STARTING POINT, not the be all, end all):

https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test-2

The one thing I want to suggest to people is to play around and start observing the three centers of intelligence: body, head and heart energy.

Krista McNally

I could seriously chat with Krista all day. She is just the kindest, loveliest type two I've ever known. Actually, now that I think about it, every type two I know is an incredibly selfless and caring individual that I want to spend all day long with.

Ok, so if you haven't discovered your unique enneagram type by now, don't wait another second. And don't stop there, pass it around to your friends and colleagues and have a conversation about your type and how it helps you to understand each other. I’ve posted some reflection questions you can use to help your discussions and I am just so excited to hear all about how this exercise went for you. And I wanna know your type! Hop over to Instagram and tell me at @kellyslawson, and until next week workshop warriors, keep slaying those beautiful goals of yours. Or wait, is that just a type three thing? Haha. Ok, you get it. By for now.

Connect with Krista

instagram.com/kristatamcnally/

http://kristamcnally.com

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

https://kellylawson.ca/sheertex

Save $40 on your first box with HelloFresh:

https://kellylawson.ca/hellofresh

Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON

https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite

Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

029: Get Your Social Media House in Order.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:31:19 +0000

With Jeff Roach

You dont have to have 10 thousand followers, you dont have to have the perfect grid, you dont have to hire a professional photographer, and you most definitely dont have to wait for perfect, for your social media strategy, you just have to START. You simply need to find a way to invite people into your world and today’s guest is here to help you get started with that - because sometimes just starting can be the hardest part.

Do you ever scroll back to your very first social media post and have a little giggle? I can’t help but laugh when I peek at my earliest days on instagram. It’s chock full of low quality photos of my food or my coffee mug accompanied by two word captions, or no caption at all and my feed just generally had no consistency or flow. In those early days I was using social media solely to entertain myself, and I most certainly didn’t have a strategy.

But everyone starts somewhere, right? And even though I have come to love all things social strategy, I didn’t always have a clear vision for how social media could support, enhance, or even transform my business for the better.

The “starting” phase is easily the hardest part because so often we get hung up on trying to perfect everything and then we just get overwhelmed and do nothing instead. Sound about right?

Today’s episode of the workshop weekly podcast is all about paring it down, simplifying your approach and removing the barriers to entry so you can reset your social strategy or just start if you’re at ground zero. By the end of this episode, I want you to have the knowledge and tools that you need to step into it, own it, and start honing the voice and the strategy you need to grow and support your business. And I want you to see that it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

Today we are talking to a very special guest, social media guru and strategist, Jeff Roach, who also happens to be my husband. We are discussing the super simple steps that you need to be taking to start off on the right foot with social, or if you’ve already started, what you can do to give your social strategy a little makeover and get it back on track starting TO-DAY! Ok, let’s do this!

In this episode, we talk about:

Trust Agents of social media and why you need to embody one.
Using social media strategically for your business - stop wasting your precious time!
The importance of knowing WHO you are trying to reach on social media, how to discover them, and understand what social networks they use (hint: the answer is NOT "everyone")
The value in researching hashtags and keywords to learn more about your target customer.
The true cost of trying to reach EVERYONE (it ain't cheap...)
Why even very small businesses NEED a budget for social media and it is more affordable than you think.
Knowing what platforms your customers are on so you can meet them where they are.
How to please the algorithm gods.
Which platforms are the best bang for your buck.
Getting your content in front of people who will care enough to share it (sharing really is caring)
Leveraging organic reach on platforms
How to understand your metrics and set goals for content performance.
The difference between the content you share to get people to care about tour brand is the content you share to get people to buy a product.

"Take an hour to sit down and think about who your customer is and start surfing the web as if you are that customer. What do you look at? What do you click on? What do you not click on? What social networks do you use? And just be that customer for a little while and try to understand their behaviors and you will meet them online when you do that."

Jeff Roach

See, I told you it doesn't have to be that complicated! and now my friend, it is your time to start. Walk away from this podcast and take action. Tag me in your beginnings or in your resets so that I can come along with you and cheer you on! And thank you so much for hitting pay on another episode of the workshop weekly podcast. Be sure to check out the resources we mentioned in this episode by visiting the show notes at kellylawson.ca/029 and until next time, please don’t hide your awesomeness from the world. I’ll be watching for you.

Bye for now.

Recommendations:

Connect with Jeff

Facebook.com/Sociallogical

Twitter.com/Soclogical

Sociallogical.com

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

https://kellylawson.ca/sheertex

Save $40 on your first box with HelloFresh:

https://kellylawson.ca/hellofresh

Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON

https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite

Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

028: Six Surprising Things That Will Make or Break Your Biz.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 13:14:46 +0000

With Kelly Lawson

In this show, I will be sharing the surprising things that can make or break your business. I’ll be speaking straight from the heart - and my own experience - about the mistakes I made and how I learned the hard way where to laser-focus my time, energy and money. I don’t want you to waste another second ignoring the things that can really move the dial for your business, so let’s get talking about the simple steps you can take to achieve your goals starting RIGHT NOW.

Today, I’m going to open up about the biggest mistakes I made in my own business and see many entrepreneurs around me getting wrong, too. I’m going to talk about the most surprising things that can literally make you sink or swim.

When I started out in business, I got so many things backwards. Looking back now, I see how I put waaay too much time, energy and attention on the wrong things. And, on the flip side, hindsight lets me now see those things that were literally game-changers for my business. Aargh! If only they had been so crystal-clear then. It would have saved me so much money and stress!

Anyhow, it’s never too late to make a change for the better.

Because here’s the thing: once you’ve identified what can really make a difference, you can let a bunch of other stuff that’s tying up all your time, energy and money go. Yes, my friends, this is all about less is more. As in doing less, and making more. And all with less struggle and waste.

So, in this show, Imma gonna break down the areas of my business that have been totally transformational in helping me grow and scale. More than that, these are also the things that have given me so much clarity, confidence and, best of all, a sense of calm as I move forward.

My friends, I want to save you the pain I went through. So no matter where you are in your business lifecycle, today’s show is for you.

OK, you ready? Let’s dig in.

In this episode, we talk about:

The throwing-spaghetti-at-the-wall approach and why it isn't doing you any favors.
How it is LEGIT impossible to be all the things to all the people.
Getting systems in place to manage time and resources - processes do NOT kill inspiration... being a hot mess does.
How to free up time, head space and energy for the work that matters to you most.
Identifying tedious tasks and draining jobs that eat up your time and how manage them.
Building a beautiful empire on a rock-solid foundation.
The dangers of getting caught in the hustle - how to prioritize balance in your life and your biz (hint: unplug and unwind).
Making and managing money like a pro.
Being visible to your customers and build trust with them. Go a head, show them that pretty face ;).
Expecting a winding road - not everything is linear.

I think it’s so important to share not just our successes but our failures, to share all parts of this journey. So I hope I’ve saved you a little time, energy, money and a little pain. And I’d love to hear from you, about what mistakes you’ve made, or what you’re struggling with! Drop into my DMs on insta and tell me - I am @kellyslawson and tell me how you made out! And I’ll see you here next week, same time, same place for another workshop to keep making change for the better in your business.

Resources

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

https://kellylawson.ca/sheertex

Save $40 on your first box with HelloFresh:

https://kellylawson.ca/hellofresh

Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON

https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite

Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

027: How to Awaken Your Divine Feminine Energy

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 10:30:43 +0000

Dr. Tracy Palmer

Our world is made up of dualities. It always has been. Tall or short. Black or white. Fast or slow. Up or down. Good or bad.

Similarly, every human has some semblance of duality in both masculine and feminine energies, and while they can’t always be seen, both are equally important to our inner harmony and well-being.

And, there is definitely something magical about feminine energy that is so often overlooked, underrated or downright neglected in modern society.

Throughout history, womanhood has been associated with weakness, sacrifice, co-dependency, over-sensitivity, and emotionality. And even in modern society, whether you identify as male, female or non binary, we continue to live in a world where feminine energy is suppressed, and masculine energy is glorified. I mean, I think we can all agree that in today’s world, we tend to be more dialed into a “get-more-done” mentality, constantly on a mission to achieve more, do more, get more, assert more, be more.

Masculine energy translates into qualities like drive, determination, independence, aggression, competitiveness, and confidence, which I think we can all recognize as pretty essential traits for succeeding in today’s world. And, don't get me wrong, these are not bad traits, we need them. In fact, these qualities have probably allowed the amazing women that you can think of to become CEOs, business owners, public figures and leaders.

But feminine energy embodies something a little less revered: feminine energy depicts the nurturer, the healer, the creative, one of feelings, morality, passivity and peacemaking. So while the masculine energy is focused on doing, the feminine energy revels in being.

And according to today’s guest, Dr Tracy Palmer, the value we put on masculine energy has led us to lose touch with our real power – our divine feminine energy and because of this we are often left feeling frazzled and depleted without truly understanding why.

Tracy believes that because we tend to prioritize masculine over feminine energy, the key is in finding balance and achieving our own unique harmony between these two types of energies.

Fatigue, perpetual hustle and energy depletion don’t have to be part of your story. In fact, there are many ways to embrace and prioritize your divine feminine energy so that you arent left feeling drained and unfulfilled, and today Dr. Tracy is sharing tangible techniques for managing your life and divine energies so you can start taking back your life, your divine self and most importantly your energy. So, are you ready for a wee spiritual awakening? Ok, Grab yourself a cup of something delicious and let’s dig in.

In this episode, we talk about:

Giving yourself permission to have hobbies and do FUN things (and not feel guilty about it).
Cultural pressure being the reason that women tend to put their own fun time on the back burner.
The negative "positive" feedback loop of receiving praise for being selfless and judgement when not.
REST! And why women are less likely to do it (STOP glorifying the hustle).
Why we seem to have the image of rest being unproductive when it, in fact, INCREASES our productivity.
Snacking like a pro - Eating for energy and how to prevent energy crashes (hangry).
Changing the narrative - being busy is NOT a badge of honour.
The Wild Collective initiative and why you need to sign up TODAY!
How you still need fun outside your job - even if you have a job you love!

Put yourself in the mix - pick one thing that you can do with just yourself with no guilt and, ideally, has no purpose attached.

Dr. Tracy Palmer

Wow. I can definitely relate to the suppression of my own divine feminine energy to make way for my more esteemed masculine side, for sure. So as you carry on your own journey of dual masculine and feminine energies, whether you identify as male, female, or non binary I want you to remember that taking time to embrace your feminine energy in order to seek your unique balance isn’t selfish; it's a necessary act of self care.

In the words of author Elizabeth Gilbert, “You are a unique event in the history of the universe. There has never been a you—not your particular soul, living at this particular moment, faced with your particular challenges. Your existence is a mystery, a miracle, and an experiment of creation, and you are allowed to examine that mystery to the fullest.”

Once you accept that, you allow your real spiritual journey to begin and I can’t wait to hear all about it. Thank you again so much for tuning in to another episode of the workshop weekly podcast. I am truly honoured, as always, to be a part of your day. Bye for now.

Connect with Tracy

https://www.facebook.com/Tracy-Palmer-Naturopathic-Doctor-476132735754739

RootsToBranchesNB.com

Check Out Today's Sponsors

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

https://kellylawson.ca/sheertex

Save $40 on your first box with HelloFresh:

https://kellylawson.ca/hellofresh

Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON

https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite

Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

026: The Untapped Gold Mine of LinkedIn

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:16:32 +0000

With April Sciacchitano

LinkedIn. It is an elusive platform that I know has mega potential for fueling my business, but here’s a confession: I don't really use it and I don't really fully understand how it works. I mean, I have a profile there, some employment history, a few endorsements, a profile photo, and some words that I slapped down in the about section way back when, but that’s about it. And here’s the thing, I know this platform is a powerhouse for making connections, forming lasting business relationships, gaining credible knowledge and generating leads, so today I am calling on LinkedIn strategist April Sciacchitano to help show me the way.

April is a powerhouse marketing and PR expert from her own Virginia Beach based firm called Mix and Shine where she has carved herself a little corner of the internet with expertise in LinkedIn strategy, business SEO and Google your Business..

So, if you’ve been thinking about leveraging LinkedIn to up your own business game, make powerful connections, find experts, hire and outsource talent, for your own career advancement or maybe you just plain want to be using LinkedIn with a little more smarts than you have been, well today’s episode is for you. Let’s settle in and get our LinkedIn game on. You ready?

In this episode, we talk about:

Why LinkedIn is WAY more than an online resume.
The value discussions and interactions in post threads as the KEY to making the right connections to move forward in your career.
How dang important it is to regularly update and KEEP your profile updated.
Keeping your own news feed fresh with this one (slightly hidden) trick.
How to be memorable and build credibility on LinkedIn.
The wild fact that 41% of millionaires are on LinkedIn (you are who you surround yourself with, amirite??).
Not letting your need for a perfect profile keep you from engaging - imperfect action RULES!
The importance of populating your profile and how to endorse and review (and how to get people to return the favour).
How to use your about section to tell people how YOU can help THEM.
Pleasing the LinkedIn algorithm gods by sharing your content the "right" way.
Automating your LinkedIn posts using Buffer (for FREE).
Building relationships on LinkedIn and how you can make money doing it.

Think of LinkedIn as the biggest conference you have ever been to.

April Sciacchitano Homework Assignment: go onto linkedin and find 5 posts and leave a comment and see how that feels. You can have an influence on LinkedIn!

Okay, so I just learned a whole lot and on top of that, I have a little work to do to up my LinkedIn game and get it working to generate leads and resources and connections to grow my business.

I hope that you enjoyed today's episode and I hope it got you thinking about how you can use LinkedIn a little more strategically in your life and in your business.

Until next week, Workshop Warriors, thank you for tuning in yet again and keep crushing those goals!

Connect with April

facebook.com/MixandShinePr/

https://mixandshine.com/

instagram.com/mixandshinepr/

linkedin.com/company/mix-shine-marketing-and-pr/

The Corporate Dropout

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

025: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Outsourcing

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 14:00:26 +0000

With Kelly Lawson

As a solopreneur, I was used to being a party of one. I started and grew my business all by my lonesome. The thought of outsourcing some of my ever-increasing workload made me incredibly anxious.

So you know what I used to do? It all. I. Did. It. All. Most days, I worked around the clock to do ALL OF THE THINGS required to run the photography side of my business while also burning the midnight oil to grow the digital side. It was a straight-up recipe for exhaustion. But somehow I couldn’t let go.

The idea of letting someone else into my complex system made me extremely skittish.

Plus, I didn’t have time for that! I was already working non-stop. The thought of having to stop what I was doing to recruit and hire another human overwhelmed me. And then I stressed about the time it would take to train them on the things that were up in my head, all of the backend processes and the wacky systems I had developed that only I knew.

BUT, then again, on the other hand… I was reaching a breaking point.

I mean, the whole reason I had left my career for the land of entrepreneurship was to bask in its freedom and flexibility. And yet, somehow, here I was, stretched so thin, working all hours, juggling so many tasks, being controlled by my calendar and only finding time to work on growing my business in those little in-between moments. And even they were becoming more and more rare.

This was NOT what I had envisioned.

I felt ripped off. Duped even.

Why did I leave a stable, well-paying career for this? Things were not progressing as planned. And I was getting more burnt out by the day.

So, maybe you know that feeling, too? Maybe you can relate? To when little tasks start to feel like giant hurdles. When your life starts to feel like an ever-accelerating hamster wheel?

It was like that Talking Heads song: How did I get here?

If any of this sounds familiar, that’s ok. Because there is a way out. It doesn’t have to be like this. You know what I’m talking about - those late nights hunched over your laptop. The weekends consumed by work?

My friend, these things are simply a sign. A red flag that you need help. And the great news is that it is easier than ever to find talented peeps to pitch in, so you can focus on the bigger things and preserve your sanity and health in the process, too.

I’m going to spend this episode walking you through outsourcing, no matter WHAT it is that’s holding you back, so that, by the time you reach the end of the podcast, you'll know when you’re ready for your first hire. You’ll also know what to look for in a new team member, or a contractor. And I’ll tell you how to run the numbers and throw in some mindset shifts that you will need to get comfy with in order to start valuing your time over your dollars. Okay. You ready? Let’s do this.

In this episode, we talk about:

Keeping your business running when you are NOT around.
The importance of TRUST - how to get over the hurdle of letting go of some responsibilities and trusting another person with your precious business.
The 3 BIG questions to ask yourself when you are assessing the need to outsource.
Understanding your pain points and how to release them to outsourced talent so you can spend more time doing what lights you up.
The importance of asking for help and how you can do it (and not feel guilty).
The game-changing act of hiring a VA (Virtual Assistant).
The fact that you are NOT as indispensable as you think and why that is perfectly okay.
Finding good help and some tips on where to look (hint: old fashion word of mouth rules!)
How to write a solid job posting to find the people whose jam it is to do the work that you dread.

Check out these resources to find people to join your team

Ok, so that’s the skinny on knowing when you’re ready to outsource and the Coles Notes on how to start finding good help, my friends.

I hope you are feeling energized at the idea of bringing in some support and getting the help that’s going to get you out of the weeds and chasing your dreams.

I want you to remember: You deserve a thriving biz. And you also deserve to not be a slave to time and a mountain of tasks.

I really can’t say it enough: getting good help is the surest, fastest, way to slaying the mountain of work that stands between you and your goals. Believe me, I know from experience, how outsourcing is truly a life-changing shift that will totally feed your potential.

Now, I started this episode talking about trust, and I’m going to close on a mindset that’s closely related: control. My darlings, don't be afraid to loosen your grip, to let a smidge of control go. That too-tight grip is costing you freedom, downtime and growth. You know, all those lovely reasons you got into entrepreneurship in the first place, right?

Right!

Well, you can’t see me but I’m raising my glass (filled with sparkling water, I swear) and toasting to your freedom and possibility. Here’s to freedom and possibility! Cheers and until next week, keep slaying those goals of yours my friend.

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https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

024: Should You Use Tiktok to Grow Your Business? Hit Play.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 10:32:50 +0000

With Cait Milberry, Cait Milberry Marketing & Communications

It started as a platform to showcase short, silly mobile videos and has exploded into the fastest growing social platform of 2020. Tiktok is sweeping the globe with a reported 800 million users worldwide and a total of 2 billion downloads as of April this year, pulling significantly ahead of apps like Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.

And like almost every social platform on the market today, the earliest adopters skew young. Gen Z young, with 41% of users between the age of 16 and 24, each spending an average of 52 minutes per session on the app and logging in an average of 8 times per day. But as we moms and dads of tiktok hop on, you can expect that demographic to change. Quickly. Which is probably reason enough for you to consider using this highly entertaining app for creating awareness and demand in your business.

And, it is no secret that the effectiveness and consumer demand for video marketing is on the rise. And with tiktok offering untapped potential, many experts believe that you should consider making it a part of your business marketing plan sooner rather than later.

On today’s episode of the workshop weekly podcast, my friend and tiktok enthusiast Cait Milberry is going to give you the lowdown on how to use the app effectively for generating brand awareness and engagement, she will demystify those 15 or 60 second videos, give you tips and tricks and strategies and break it all down so that you have what you need to get started using this most talked about app in your business.

So, are you ready to talk tiktok? Let’s do it!

In this episode, Cait talks to us about:

The best way to share your stories and exercise your creative muscles using a new and exciting platform.
Why businesses are hopping onto TikTok, quickly.
The role TikTok can play to help you generate valuable and engaging content.
Reasons why you are NOT, I repeat, NOT too old to use TikTok
Why TikTok is different from other platforms and how it can be used to your advantage.
The secret to making money on this platform (seriously, you could make BIG bucks).
The best tips for generating creative content to reach, excite and engage your target audience and grow your following
The number one way to stand out on this popular platform and generate traction based on current trends, and skyrocket your engagement.
Who is Charli?!?
The importance of adding a call to action to your content, and how to do it.
Tips for using TikTok as a powerful mobile video editor for your business and how to save videos without watermarks.

I gotta say, TikTok is not just for Gen Zers. They have gained a fan in me with their fun, light-hearted content that has me forwarding links to friends and family and keeps me laughing for days. And I am certainly not alone there, in less than 18 months, adult users of TikTok have grown by over 14 million in the US alone. So, whether you are new to TikTok or a seasoned user, I hope you’ll find me there. I can’t wait to see your 15 or 60 seconds of fame.

This workshop was so much fun, let’s do it again next week shall we? Same place, different topic? Thank you again so much for tuning in. Bye for now.

Check out my FIRST tictok! Connect with Cait

facebook.com/CaitMilberryMarketing/

caitmilberry.com

instagram.com/caitblueberry/

ticktok.com/@rocknrollcait

Check Out Today's Sponsors

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

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023: Your Period has Everything to do with Your Productivity

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 11:00:00 +0000

With Dr. Ashley Margeson, Cornerstone Naturopathic Inc.

Ok. Is this you?

Some days, you are totally in the zone. You are grooving so hard that you knock all the things off your lengthy to-do list and then slay half way through tomorrow’s list too. You are on fire, and you are so impressed with yourself that you want to replace your work attire for a superhero suit, place your fists firmly on your hips, stand on a mildly windy mountaintop with your chin raised. There is nothing you cant conquer.

Then, other days, you find yourself slumping, spinning your wheels, wasting time, mindlessly scrolling social media, distracted by everything and not really getting anything done. Frustrated with yourself you close your eyes and picture your bed, stretchy pants and a giant bowl of doritos. You doodle or scroll social media and on these days you’re probably meantalking yourself and your lazy ways.

Some days you feel unafraid and like a confident social networking rockstar, while other days you are so irritable and anxious that you can’t get out of your own way long enough to even decide what clothes to put on your body that day. And these strange swings in your mood, appetite, and cognition, you can’t seem to find a reason for any of it.

Well, what if I told you there was a reason for it? And not only a reason, but a predictable pattern for it, a mood schedule, of sorts. What if you could align your life schedule with cycles of high energy, creativity, intuition and the need for reflection, in order to calibrate your expectations for yourself?

What if I told you that for a long time now, women have been conditioned to adjust to a man’s workplace, environment, schedule and approach to productivity and you are about to learn how this impacts our ability to be our best productive selves every day of life.

What if I told you that many of us are never taught how to unlock the potential in our cycles?

Well, my guest Dr Ashley Margeson is here today to change all of this for you. Ashley wants you to know that not only do Female hormonal cycles have natural and predictable fluctuations, but that they also affect your mood, energy and cognition in really predictable ways. And if you’re like me, you’ve been conditioned to ignore all of these cues from your body. Ashley teaches women how to live in sync with their menstrual cycle and she explains how you can better understand the various phases of your cycle and how they impact your mood, your energy levels, your creativity and even how you’ll perform on your first date, or maybe your job interview or client pitch. Today Ashley is breaking down our cycle for us so that we can begin to understand exactly why we feel the way we feel and what tasks we are optimized for at any given stage in our hormone cycle.

You guys, my mind was blown many times over during my conversation with Dr. Ashley. I think after hearing today’s episode we will all agree that it’s time to look at syncing our work and socialization schedules up with our menstrual schedules, or in the very least, to understand our body’s needs on a deeper level. Your mind is about to be blown. Your life is about to change. I’m serious. Are you ready?

In this episode, Ashley talks to us about:

How understanding your hormones and owning your cycle can optimize your LIFE.
How your reproductive cycle isn't just about fertility.
The Superwomen Code (I KNOW you want to know more about this).
How our periods are trying to communicate what is happening in our body - your period is a vital sign.
What the perfect period looks like
How each phase of your cycle gives you a new superpower and what they are.
How to know when in your cycle to ask for a raise ;).
Why we get cravings before our period.
What part of your cycle is best for creative work.
The apps you can use for tracking your cycle and how being armed with this data can help you plan and optimize your day to day life and be more forgiving of yourself.
How birth control actually works and how to plan around this modified cycle.
The ONE THING you need to do today to get closer to working with your hormone cycle instead of against it.

Check out These Apps and Resources:

Clue (tracking app)

Me V PMDD (symptom tracker)

The Superwoman Code (podcast)

Connect with Ashley

facebook.com/CornerstoneNaturopathic/

cornerstonenaturopathic.ca

pinterest.ca/cornerstonenat/

instagram.com/cornerstonenaturopathic/

When asked if there was one thought she would like listeners to take away from this conversation:

Track. Your. Cycles.

Dr. Ashley Margeson

Is your life different now? Has your mind been blown? Do you suddenly have the explanation you’ve been looking for as to why some days you are on your game while others you are not? Well, me too you guys. I dont know how I have lived to 40 without listening to my body on a deeper, more empathetic level. I am pretty confident that in just 12 short weeks from now we will all learn how to better manage our energy, how to work smarter instead of against the grain, and how to optimize our schedules according to our internal needs. Let’s go on this discovery journey together. And, Was it just me or did this episode go by way too fast? Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for tuning in to yet another episode of the workshop weekly podcast. I’ll catch you again next week, workshop warrior.

Check Out Today's Sponsors

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

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022: Add These 5 Passive Revenue Streams to Your Business Today!

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 10:22:33 +0000

With Kelly Lawson

Do you ever feel like you are grinding away for every dollar? That you’re hustling so hard to keep up with your customers’ demands you find yourself on the verge of a serious burnout?

I know that feeling. I’ve totally been there, time and time again. And I’m here to tell you there is a better way. It’s called passive income. And passive income is the thing that will give you a profitable business that can last in the long run. ‘Cause you can’t keep this crazy hustle up forever now, can you?

If you’ve ever dreamt of making money while you sleep, and then dreamt of all the ways you’d spend that moola in your well-rested waking hours – well, then today’s show is serving up exactly what you need to hear.

In this episode of the Workshop Weekly Podcast, I'm going to be dishing up five ways you can add passive revenue streams to your business. You guys, this is all about working smarter, not harder and not more either. If passive income is something that you have considered adding to your life or business, well then my friend you’re in the right place. So, put on your comfies, grab your pen and notebook, and let’s dive in.

Today, Kelly Will Talk to Us About...

Creating a sustainable income so you have more time for the people and things you LOVE.
How to multiply your impact and give more chances for customers to benefit from your offer.
The low-down on affiliate marketing and how YOU can get started earning money.
How to be selective with affiliate marketing - aligning with your brand and values.
How to recommend products or services that you already use and love and get paid to do it.
The value of online real estate.
How to sell one thing, a digital product, again and again (and AGAIN!)
How anyone can create and sell a digital product.
How to use your FAQ to build a passive income.
How to make your unused space pay you.
What important tactics to keep in mind to be successful at this passive income thing.

Check Out These Resources to Help You Build Your Passive Income

Passive income is a way to get off the treadmill. To create value and share your work with more people. To give yourself freedom in your finances and in other ways, too.

Kelly Lawson

Alright, folks! There you have it! My absolute best insight into creating a lifestyle of passive income– creating a life YOU want to live by freeing up your valuable time. I truly think passive income should be the end goal of every business simply so you have more free time to enjoy yourself, but don’t forget to embrace this process, and realize it’s going to take some time, work, patience, and diligence up front, and payday absolutely won’t happen overnight… but if you start working towards that today, just imagine what your life could look like in one month or one year from now.

There is no “one size fits all” advice when it comes to generating income streams. How many sources of income you have should depend upon where you are financially, and what your financial goals for the future are. But having at least a few is a good start. And a little hint or inspiration for you, most millionaires have 7 revenue streams.

As always, I cannot wait to hear how you make out! Drop into my DMs on Instagram I am @kellyslawson and tell me how you made out! And I’ll see you here next week, same time, same place for another weekly workshop that keeps shooting your success in the direction of the stars.

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

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021: Not Enough Hours in Your Day? Need More? Hit Play.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 09:09:33 +0000

With Guest: Elaine Shannon

Have you ever said to yourself, I would love to do this thing, like go to the gym, or start a business, or take on a special project or maybe even attending social events or dating, but you just cant seem to find the time? Do you ever just feel like a total slave to your busy schedule, hoping that someday it will open up and you will be able to do that thing youve been putting off or maybe even just something that is purely for fun?

In today’s world, time is our most precious commodity, and it is the one thing that we cannot increase, like there are only 24 hours in the day and seven days in the week, so if you’re a busy person, and I know you are, every minute counts and I know you want to be using it wisely.

On today’s episode of the workshop weekly podcast, I am speaking with reclaiming your time Guru Elaine Shannon who has ALL KINDS of hacks for managing your minutes, and uncovering hours that you probably didnt even know you had.

Today, Elaine is going to help you solidify a plan that allows you to work ahead, plan with strategy, work efficiently, and even have that dreamy time off to truly REST. Sound to good to be true? Well, I promise it’s very true, getting your precious time back is in your very near future. So let’s not waste anymore if it and dive right in!

In today's episode, Elaine tells us about:

How to get more time by prioritizing.
The importance of doing a time audit and how it can be just the visual you need to analyze how you spend your hours.
How we all (even Beyonce) have 24 hours a day, 168 hours in a week.
The hidden magic in the last 30 minutes of your workday.
Why kids are not the only ones who need a bedtime routine.
How understanding your own values will guide you on how to prioritize your time.
Tips on how to say "no" and why saying it isn't unkind
How to live your life by design, not default.
The value of a "pregnant pause."
How leaving time for you is critical.
The ONE THING you need to do today to achieve work-life balance

When asked to share her best advice for the elusive work-life balance...

Balance is making sure that you are filling your cup as much as you are giving away what you have. If you are over giving and not filling, that leaves you depleted.

Elaine Shannon

See what I mean! I told you it wasnt too good to be true. I really love the idea of auditing the 168 hours that we all have in a week, because as difficult as it may be to come to terms with, there is probably some wasted time in there that you didnt know you had. You guys, I dont even want to tell you how many HOURS I found of mindless social media scrolling, and guess what, mindless social media scrolling not only isnt helping me to get to my business goals, but it’s actually not really enriching my life in other ways all that much either.

I hope after listening to this episode and grabbing Elaine’s workbook you are able to eliminate “I don't have time” from your vocabulary, because always remember, Beyonce also has just 24 hours in her day too.

I love you workshop warriors. Keep on slaying and I will see you next week.

Get in Touch

https://www.elaineshannon.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ElaineShannonCoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaineshannon/

Check Out Today's Sponsors

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

020: Pitch with Confidence, Here’s How.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 16:13:08 +0000

With Guest: Tracy Bell

When you stop and think about it for a second, as entrepreneurs we are ALWAYS pitching. We are pitching ourselves and our services, our products and offers, we are pitching partnerships, sponsorships, features, endorsement deals, we’re pitching potential employers, new acquaintances, and in some cases we’re even pitching for funding. Heck, as parents we’re even pitching for less screen time and more vegetables every dang day! Safe to say having the ability to hone an effective pitch is a pretty essential tool in business and in life.

If you aren’t comfortable pitching yourself or your offer, it’s time for you to start thinking about how to hone your inner confidence and step up so you can land the big gigs. And if you are comfy with pitching, maybe it’s time to make sure your pitches are hitting the key points, because pitching with confidence, while cringe-worthy to some, can be the most impactful way to catapult your personal development and fast forward your business growth.

And that’s why my guest, Tracy Bell of Millenia Tea is here today to help you to perfect your pitch!

In today’s workshop we are getting down and dirty with crafting your pitch. We are digging in and getting specific on how to pitch strategically. We discuss things like how much information is too much information, what stories are important to tell, and we also talk about some of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when artfully communicating their wares.

Tracy is here to teach you how to cut the fluff and speak directly to the heart of the person you are pitching to. You guys, by the end of this episode, I’m pretty confident that you will be more ready than ever to hone your unique pitch and start locking in those dream deals for your business. You ready for that?

In today's episode, Tracy tells us about:

How she became an accidental entrepreneur after a health scare
Her behind the scenes experience on Dragons Den
The most important thing you need to understand before you pitch anything to anyone
The key to a successful pitch (hint: it's not what you might think)
Tips for identifying TMI in a pitch.
That compelling stories are essential for your pitch and how to hone yours.
The anatomy of the perfect pitch.
How to anticipate questions and answer them proactively.
The common mistakes people make when making their pitch and how to avoid them.
Tips for combating your nerves.
The importance of attracting the FULL attention of a room while making your pitch and how to do it.
The number one thing you need to be doing today, to ensure getting a YES after your pitch.

When asked what is the ONE THING she wanted listeners to take away from this episode...

Imagine that you are in the lobby of an office building or hotel and all of the sudden you spot someone you always wanted to talk to, maybe a famous person, maybe an advisor, someone who might be a mentor, someone you would love to talk to... They ask you what you do and you have 30 seconds to 1 minute to pitch. Decide today what you would say to answer the question of what you do, why they should care, and what you can say to get them to a place of wanting to learn more.

Tracy Bell

So there you have it, a few tips and tricks from one of our very own MASTER pitchers. Tracy really knows the strategies needed to ensure that your message gets heard, remembered, and that your pitch is responded to with a resounding YES!

But the real secret here is that an effective business pitch takes time and research, dedication and work. You need to start with honing your inner confidence and you can never really have too much practice. Today. I hope you’ve truly heard Tracy’s advice and trust that a passionate and energetic pitch goes a LONG way for the success that lies before you.

And, never forget, the more your pitch, the better at it you will become and even though it might not always work out, the real accomplishment is trying.

Don’t forget to visit kellylawson.ca/020 to grab today’s shownotes and resources and to learn how you can connect with Tracy and get your hands on some of her deliciously healthy tea! Until next week workshop warriors, bye for now.

Get in Touch

https://millenniatea.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MillenniaTEA/

https://www.instagram.com/millennia_tea/

https://www.twitter.com/millenia_tea/

Check Out Today's Sponsors

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON

https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite

Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

019: 3 Things You Need to do to Overhaul Your Personal Brand Right Now

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 16:08:40 +0000

With Guest: Angie McPherson

So often, starting a business can look like this: you have an idea, you conceptualize the idea, you validate the idea, which by the way means that now you’re taking money and taking names, and you’re excited!

Then suddenly, somewhere along the way, you find yourself resembling a walking talking brochure constantly selling your offer, and this is how you build a business. But if building a brand is what you’re here for, well then, that constant selling approach may not be the best one.

A business can be defined as an organization that creates awareness and demand intended to sell a product, service or offer. But a brand is more than that. A brand is an image, a personality. Something to connect with. A brand makes you feel something. A brand is something you will remain emotionally connected to long before and long after making the decision to purchase.

Building a brand means that you're looking beyond the transaction to build trust, familiarity, rapport, and create meaningful connections with your fans, followers, and customers. And here's the important part, if your feed only features what you have for sale, you’re probably alienating anyone that isn’t CURRENTLY ready to buy from you – and by the way, this is almost always the majority.

And here’s a common misconception: Often when we hear the word “brand” we immediately think of the visual components: logos, colors, fonts, and websites, but when you dig into what a brand truly is, it’s more about the vision, the voice, and the personality behind the sales offer.

And this is exactly what my new friend Angie McPherson is here to teach you about today.

Angie is a branding photographer, marketing strategist, and hype-woman who spends her days helping entrepreneurs to elevate their personal brands, expand their reach and therefore grow their businesses. Angie works everyday to teach business owners the importance of showing their faces, telling their stories, offering value and truly connecting with their audience online rather than just showing up to sell. She believes that only showing up to sell your wares and hiding behind your work is a common mistake that entrepreneurs make, and today she is here to tell you why. I had so much fun chatting with Angie, our stories are freakishly similar, and I just know you are going to love her and learn so much from her today. I know I sure did. Are you ready?

In today's episode, Angie discuses:

The decision to leave her day job as a marketing and PR specialist to follow her entrepreneurial dream as a branding photographer and personal marketing strategist.
The relevance of building a brand rather than a business.
Her ability to see her client's progression based on their BEFORE: inconsistent photos, non-cohesive visuals, no calls to action, a lack of brand purpose, and values.
The value of creating an intentional brand with intentional visuals, to effectively overhaul your brand.
The importance of having consistent and fresh branding photos as well as understanding how often you should plan photoshoots for growing your personal brand.
The number one thing you should be doing to build your personal brand and 5 questions you need to ask yourself before you get started.
The fundamental difference between a branding photographer and a lifestyle photographer.
Her three-step framework for overhauling your brand starting TODAY.
The significance of showing your face, getting out from behind the camera, and not just capturing what you have for sale in your feed. You and your offer are a package deal!
What a content plan is and how you can craft your own
The definitions of brand building, value-add, and promotional content and how to check these boxes your business.
The secret to remaining top of mind to your potential customers for when they are ready to buy (Truth: the majority are not ready to buy at the moment of contact)
The key to knowing if your content is valuable to your (potential) customers.
What a foundational blog post is and why you need one (or five) in your business right NOW!
The importance of a consistent presence and her top tips for knowing how to show up and what to say every day on social media.
The power of batch working and how to do it (especially if you have a 5-month-old baby).
The ONE THING you need to do today to create a stronger more desirable brand for your business.

Angies Freebies and Checklists.

Angie is not only generous with her time to speak to me but she has a host of resources to share with you!

5 Ways to Show Your Personality in Branding Photos for Creative Entrepreneurs
Personal Branding Photography Checklist
Planoly - her favourite tool for scheduling in Instagram
5 Benefits of Personal Branding Photography

I will also shameless plug for my Ideal Client Profile Podcast and Worksheet.

Final Thoughts?

When asked what is the one thing listeners could do to move the needle to create a more desirable personal brand, Angie had a very insightful recommendation:

I would look inward to yourself and be clear and confident in who you are and how you can help people.

Angie McPherson

I just love Angie’s message. When a true brand is built, it is built on a rock solid foundation of serving your people. And when you build your business on this foundation, it allows you to unapologetically sell what you have when the time comes because you’ve worked hard to not alienate those who are not immediately ready to buy what you have to sell.

If you’re building a business, you’re showing up only for those who are ready to purchase. If you’re building a brand, well then you’re more focused on casting a wider net by building relationships through serving all people, even those who aren't ready to buy, so that when the time comes to SELL, your audience is ready to hear that from you.

I hope what Angie had to say in today’s episode helped you to see the power in building a brand rather than a business, and I also hope her advice helped you to see how you can begin to do this in your own business. Because when you step out from behind what you have for sale with a desire to serve, a clear voice, and a genuine and recognizable personality, you will truly make a greater impact, reach a wider audience, and see the rewards!

Don't forget to visit the show notes at kellylawson.ca/019 to find Angie’s free resource and find links to work with her and connect with her online!

...And was it just me, or did this one go by way too fast? I guess we must be having fun here after all! Until next week workshop warriors.

Get in Touch with Angie

http://angiemcpherson.com/

https://facebook.com/McPhersonPhotos/

https://www.instagram.com/angiejanine/

Check Out Today's Sponsors

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018: Your Brand is Not for Everyone, and That’s Okay.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 13:22:16 +0000

With Guests: Nat and Cearagh of Marrow Marketing

Sometimes in business and in life, we can find ourselves being innate people pleasers. We proceed by trying not to ruffle any feathers or rock any boats, while playing everything we do super safe, in order to convey our unwavering likability. And while pouring your awesomeness into the world is usually a good idea, sometimes we can get so lost in our attempt to gain acceptance, that we lose ourselves. We lose our voice, we lose our message, we lose our authenticity and we lose our essence.

In the world of branding and marketing, trying to please everyone is not a good strategy.

This is exactly why my friends Nat and Cearagh of Marrow Marketing are coming to you today with their message that your Brand is NOT for Everyone, and that is perfectly okay. In fact, creating a brand that will turn some people away is actually encouraged.

And, Trust me, I know this probably sounds backwards.

Cearagh and Nat want you to understand that there will always be haters. There will always be people that judge and reject what you are doing, and you need to get comfy with that if building a strong, stand out brand and loyal following is something that you strive for in your business. Nat and Cearagh are here to give you permission to let go of your need to be liked by everyone, so that you can show up in a way that serves your biggest fans while also making space for you and your brand to remain true to your core.

In life and in entrepreneurship, you need to remind yourself that you are not capable of pleasing everyone. You are not nutella. So get ready to let go of all your people pleasing desires and let’s dive into today’s episode!

In this Episode We Discuss: 1. How to Articulate the Value of Your Organization to Your Unique Audience

Nat and Cearagh can help with their impressive array of workshops and courses - Marketing Lab, Content Camp, Love Video Connection and more!

To speak to your audience, you need to know your audience. Lucky for us, Nat and Cearagh have us covered again with a fantastic Buyer Persona Template. Like those personality tests that you have already taken a million times only this one is practical and will make you money.

One, two, FREE! Want to give you audience a gentle nudge and connect more online but a loss of how the hell (Nat and Cearaghs words, not mine) to do it? Try this free download of 10 Days of Social Posts. Take the time to do the work, find the customer that gets so much value from how you show up that, if you could replicate them (ethics aside), business would boom!

2. The Significance of Creating a Safe Community for Your Audience and How to Do it.

When you put yourself out there, people will take notice and not everyone will be nice about it. Cearagh and Nat discuss the power of operating on the assumption that people will say mean things and how you can show up and be effective in this situation. Gone are the days of trolls staying under their bridges!

3. The Number One Way to Deal with Haters.

Have a look at who is speaking out and what they are saying. Learn who they, which ones to actually listen to, and how to respond. Spoiler alert: not everyone's critique has merit. Like, would you take flooring recommendations from someone who still proudly struts their stuff on shag carpet?

4. The Importance of Showing Your Scars, NOT Your Scabs.

Okay, that sounds a little gross, but hear me out. Don't just share deep hurt wounds with the world for the glory or attention it gives you, learn how to confidently and appropriately share your vulnerabilities and back it up with what you learned and how you overcame it.

5. The Power of Emotional Connection.

Studies have found that you will outperform your competition by 86% if you can make an emotional connection with your audience. Everyone has a brand they have an emotional connection with and are happy to support - give them a chance to care about you.

6. The ONE THING You Need to Be Doing TODAY to Amp Up Your Own Brand.

Cearagh shares with us the MOST important thing you need to do if you want to attract more raving fans to you and your brand online and offline. And, I gotta say, it's a lot simpler than you probably think!

Nat and Kiera bring so much energy and wisdom to the conversation that I feel like we could talk for days. I sincerely hope you learned from them today and that you are going to move forward knowing that you can’t please everyone, and it is perfectly ok. In business, if you are always keeping your ideal client in mind, you will have the confidence to know what to say and when to say it, and be A-OK with the fact that some people aren't going to like it. In fact, you can take comfort in knowing that when people who are not your ideal clients don't like what you are doing, its a sign that you’re probably doing it right.

I hope you had as much fun listening as I did conversing with these two, and don’t forget to head over to the shownotes at kellylawson.ca/018 to learn how you can connect with Nat and Kiera and join their programs. And until next time workshop warriors, keep on attracting and repelling with your brand while slaying your biggest goals.

Get in Touch with Marrow

https://www.madeofmarrow.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mademarrow

https://www.instagram.com/mademarrow/

https://twitter.com/madeofmarrow

Check Out Today's Sponsors

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Save $40 on your first box with HelloFresh:

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Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON

https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite

Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

017: How You Can Stand for Change Without Judgement #sharethemicnow

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:09:29 +0000

Host: Whitly Jane

When the world listens to women, it listens to white women. For far too long, Black women’s voices have gone unheard, even though they’ve been using their voices loudly for centuries to enact change. Today, more than ever, it is NECESSARY that we create a unifying action to center Black women’s lives, stories, and calls to action. We need to listen to Black women.

These are the words of Rachel Cargle and this is why she created #ShareTheMicNow, so that Black women can speak from the accounts of white women.

The intention of this movement is to magnify Black women and the important work that they’re doing in order to catalyze the change that will only come when we truly hear each other’s voices.

And that’s why this week’s episode of the workshop weekly podcast is going to be a little different.

Today I am handing the hosting seat and microphone over to my friend Whitly Jane.

Whitly is the host of the Get Inspired Show, she is an Inspirational speaker and mentor. Whitly speaks to inspire others to take action in their lives and businesses. She is the creator of the Purpose Academy that guides women to step into their authentic power so they can create purpose driven businesses and leave their mark in the world. Whitly is a true leader with a mission to help others unleash their power, ignite their passion and live their purpose. When she isn’t busy being a mom and everything in between, she’s travelling to new places with her kids, spending time by the ocean and dreaming big!

Today she is coming to you with her message about using your authentic power to hone your unique message, so that you can show up confidently and use your voice, even when it feels scary. I know that her words will leave you feeling empowered and inspired and I am so honoured to hand the reins over to her today.

Here's what she has in store for you:

The greatest lesson she has learned and how she's using that to share her message at this time.
How you can shift your perspective and navigate your own message during this time so that you too can contribute to this great change without the fear
She talks about her painful experiences with judgment, racism, prejudice and how that led to an inability to love herself
Her personal struggle with the comparison game.
The mindset shifts she needed to make to find her inner purpose.
The significant of honing your Authentic Power and the role that EGO plays
What is possible for you once you shift your own perspective
How to stop living your life on other people's terms
Her take on equality: we are more similar than we are different
The ONE THING you need to do today to get closer to your authentic voice and honing your own authentic power so that. you can show up genuinely right now and join the fight for equality

Whitly's closing Words:

So today, your simple yet profound piece of action I am giving you today is that you take some quiet and get real with yourself and write down what message is inside my heart and soul that keeps whispering to me that I have been afraid to share with the world? And I want you to share it with the people or the platform or the community that you feel most called to share it with.

Get in Touch with Whitly

Get Inspired Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/975412335870429/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC12lfDbZ2ErZAgpsK7hcpKQ

Instagram: @whitlyjane

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitlyjane/

Freebie (Craft Your Message): https://mailchi.mp/20193e2c5839/craftingyourmessage

016: Are You Legally Protected? Click Play to Find Out.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 03:54:41 +0000

Guest: Mel Norton, Esq.

Do you know the most common legal mistake most entrepreneurs make when starting their first business? Well, I didn’t either.

And full disclosure, I have needed to reverse engineer some of those early legal oversights and thank goodness they didnt lead to an unfortunate and avoidable situation in my business. I mean, sometimes when we are so busy making money and taking names as entrepreneurs, we forget about minding the fine print. Literally.

Today I am chatting with my friend, entrepreneur, podcaster and razor sharp lawyer Mel Norton about the things that you should be aware of in your business, from a legal point of view. I am so lucky to have Mel to help me foresee weak spots and potential liabilities in my business. I mean, I truly don't know where I would be without him. And today, Mel is sharing the things that you need to be doing in your business, starting today - even if you can't afford to hire a lawyer - to make sure that you are protected.

Mel is a wealth of knowledge, he has so many valuable and tactile tips that you can be implementing in your business. So if you haven't thought about the legal implications in your business, or if you think your business could be legally vulnerable in some way, or you just plain arent sure, well settle in my friend, this workshop weekly episode is especially for you!

In this episode we discuss:

Potential oversights and preventative steps you can take to protect yourself and your business from a legal standpoint.
The three most important things an early-stage entrepreneur should be doing.
The right business structure for you (sole proprietor, partnership, incorporation, not for profit) and the foresight that might save you down the road.
The types of contracts and contract clauses you will want to consider in your business.
Types of written agreements and tools you can use.
Why you should create a practice of saving all emails in your business.
Mel's thoughts on the rise of boilerplate contracts and what to watch out for.
The three most common legal "mistakes" entrepreneurs make.
The most important legal agreements you will likely need to review to mitigate risk in your business.
The one thing you should do to protect yourself and your business today.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Canadian Employment Standards

Provincial Employment Standards

United States Employment Standards

Health and Safety Guidelines for Return to Work Covid

Get in touch with Mel:

https://lawsoncreamer .com/

Call Today for a Consultation (506) 633-3737

info@lawsoncreamer.com

Mel on Twitter

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Listen, I get it. Deep down you know you deserve more, but you don’t quite know how to get there.

You see a lot of programs and e-courses that could be of benefit to you, but you don’t know which one will take you where you want to be. ‘It might be a mix of a few of them’ — you think; but we both know that can cost a pretty penny. Well, workshop warrior, all of this ends now!

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And here’s the best part, for a limited time you can get all of this for just $100. That’s right, just $100, that’s 99% savings. Insane right? But you gotta act fast. The bundle is only available starting June 1st for just 10 days.

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015: Start a Multi-Million Dollar eCommerce Shop with These 3 Steps

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 09:30:00 +0000

Guest: Kristin Mastoras, Founder of Ms Design Berry

Generating oodles of revenue every month is the dream goal for most anyone starting their own e-commerce business. But the sad reality is that so many people starting out, fail to generate enough sales to even stay afloat—in fact, it has been estimated that e-commerce businesses experience an 80% failure rate. - YOUCH.

However, despite this discouraging statistic, building a seven-figure e-commerce business is far from impossible. This became abundantly clear during my conversation with Kristin Mastoras, founder and CEO of Ms. Design Berry.

Kristin launched her custom art commissions e-commerce business as a side hustle while she was still working full time. She creates custom artwork for her customers, mainly wedding clients, and her business has seen incredible growth over the course of her journey. Kristin’s business has grown into a team of 24, now clocking over 2 million dollars in sales.

So how did Kristin manage to achieve such impressive growth? Well, safe to say that great customer experience and high-quality products certainly played a role, but much of her success can be attributed to a few key e-commerce sales and marketing strategies that you can learn and implement as well, and in this episode of the workshop weekly podcast, Kristin is spilling her best-kept secrets. You want in on it? Thought so.

In this episode we discuss:

Kristin's success selling custom illustration business on Etsy started as a side hustle and lead to 2 million dollars in sales.
How she knew when it was the right time to leave her full-time job
Kristin's favourite thing about running an eCommerce shop
Her trick for keeping her ideas and goals fresh
The thing that she would have done differently if she were to do this all over again
How they dealt with having her Etsy shop unexpectedly shut down
The importance of social proof and how to leverage it in the online space (step 1)
She digs into the often-overlooked importance of the "About Me" section of your business's website and how to do it right
Her top tips for how to stand out in a noisy space
Easy and Immediate Communication: The game-changing, revenue increasing power of adding live chat to sales pages and how to do it (step 2)
The importance of a strong brand and how a strong brand means much more than just visuals (step 3)
The one thing you should be doing to drive traffic to your eCommerce site
The one thing that Kristin thinks you should be doing TODAY to start off on the right foot

While there's no denying the importance of your website design and consistent thoughtful branding in growing your e-commerce business, Kristin makes it pretty clear that one ecommerce platform should never be your only source of revenue and that as an entrepreneur, you should always be seeking feedback, learning and changing right along with your customer.

I hope you found this episode valuable nomatter what industry youre in, because I gotta say, everything that she had to say rings true for any business, and if you are willing to do the work, well, you will be turning that business of yours into a 7-figure empire in no time as well.

Thank you so much for tuning in to yet another episode of the workshop weekly podcast. And I look forward to hanging out in your earbuds again next week!

>> Downloa d Kristin's cheat sheet here <<

Get in Touch with Kristin

https://missdesignberry.com/

https://www.instagram.com/missdesignberry/

https://kristinmastoras.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kristinmastoras/

Live Chat Platform Zendesk --> https://www.zendesk.com/

Grab Your $100 eCourse Business Bundle Before it's too Late!

>> AVAILABLE JUNE 1ST - JUNE 9TH ONLY!! <<

Grow Your Business SUPERFAST!

With The Bundle Co.

>>> {Limited Time Offer} Get 75 Courses for Just $100 HERE!!! <<< Available June 1 - 10th

Enrolment Open June 1 - 9th ONLY!

INTRODUCING THE BUSINESS BUNDLE

Listen, I get it. Deep down you know you deserve more, but you don’t quite know how to get there.

To get your business bundle for just $100, head to kellylawson.ca/businessbundle TODAY!

(Offer available June 1 - 9, 2020 only!!)

014: How This Entrepreneur Grew a 7-Figure Pandemic Proof Business in Just 2 Years

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 25 May 2020 09:47:00 +0000

Guest: Ingrid Munroe, The NB Box Owner and Founder

My friend Ingrid Munroe got her start as an entrepreneur simply by surrounding herself with other creative entrepreneurs, and side hustling like crazy when she wasn't playing the role of busy mom to her three young children. Fast forward just two years, and now Ingrid is running a successful 7- figure online box business from her newly renovated basement studio.

Ingrid is the creator and founder of The NB Box, a custom boutique gifting company in New Brunswick Canada, and today we are going to talk all about how she laid the foundation, garnered a following and launched a pandemic proof online business that took her from stay at home mom to million-dollar entrepreneur in just two years.

In this episode we talk about everything from how to pandemic proof your venture, to rocket launching a home based business, to managing home life with work life, and also the more vulnerable things like, the messy middle, to growing an audience and how to turn mishaps into golden opportunities. And the numbers? We aren’t shying away from those either.

Ingrid has been a friend of mine for a while, and I just know that her words will inspire and motivate you leaving you feeling like in the world of entrepreneurship, ANYTHING is possible if you just start. So grab your coffee cup, or wine glass, and curl up with us as we chat about how she went from zero to seven figures super quick, and hear her tips for how you can do it too! Are you ready?

In this episode Ingrid discusses:

How her million-dollar business idea began at her sister's baby shower just two years ago
The number one barrier for getting sales in an eCommerce business and how to mitigate
The exact growth she experienced in revenue numbers
The business loan that she was approved for, and didn't take
The power of writing a well thought out business plan
The important role of bootstrapping and investing in your own business
The number one thing that Ingrid focused on to make her business a success
How she sees missteps as golden opportunities that actually helped to accelerate her business growth
How she responded to Covid and the ways in which her business was designed to be resilient and scalable
Ingrid discusses what differentiates her business and makes her offerings irresistible to customers
We discuss her attention to branding and messaging and how dialing in on her ONE UNIQUE ideal customer enabled her to leverage social media and scale quickly
We talk about the things she would have done differently if she could
And Ingrid shares the ONE THING that she thinks you should be doing TODAY, to follow the same successful path that she has

>>> Check out The Workshop Weekly Podcast Episode 004 to Learn How to Dial in YOUR Unique Ideal Customer HERE <<<

I hope you are feeling inspired by Ingrid's success and that you have learned from her advice. I cant agree with her more that there is so much value in finding the courage to JUST START no matter how unprepared you feel, because truthbomb: you will always feel unprepared on some level when you are getting started. And once you get started, the sooner you can get your finger on the pulse of what your current and future customers want and need, well my friend, you will become our next big success story.

Thank you again for hitting play on yet another episode of the workshop weekly podcast. I hope you learned a whole lot, and let’s keep dreaming big, kay?

See you next week.

Visit The NB Box TODAY!

https://nbbox.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/thenbbox/

https://www.instagram.com/thenbbox

Grow Your Business SUPERFAST!

With The Bundle Co.

>>> {Limited Time Offer} Get 75 Courses for Just $100 HERE!!! <<< Available June 1 - 10th

Enrolment Open June 1 - 9th ONLY!

INTRODUCING THE BUSINESS BUNDLE

Listen, I get it. Deep down you know you deserve more, but you don’t quite know how to get there.

To get your business bundle for just $100, head to kellylawson.ca/businessbundle TODAY!

(Offer available June 1 - 9, 2020 only!!)

013: Wanna Know 10 Ways to Automate Your Biz? Listen to This.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 18 May 2020 11:13:56 +0000

Do you ever get to the end of your workday and think: I have no idea what just happened there. I mean, I worked hard all day but I don't really have anything to show for it? Do you ever find yourself caught on the hamster wheel of mundane, repetitive tasks that need to get done but they don't necessarily move the needle in your business?

And so, the cycle continues. The cycle where you spend your entire day working IN your business instead of ON your business, and so many little things get completed but nothing really moves forward. You’re checking boxes but you feel stuck and frustrated and quite frankly, some days it gets to you so deeply that you just feel like throwing the towel in on the whole dang thing.

My friend, I have been there.

But I am here to tell you that there is a better way! You can break the seemingly endless cycle of doing hashtag -all of the things- by identifying and creating systems in your biz, and using automation and outsourcing tools so that the humdrum can run themselves while you get back to focusing on the bigger things.

So, are you ready to put some quality oil into that fine machine of yours? Consider me your official business mechanic and, let’s do this.

Identify Patterns

I want you to think about repetitive patterns in your business, these are things that are done frequently or semi-frequently and follow the same basic sequence over and over, such as scheduling.

Here is a link to options of scheduling software and reviews.

What Tasks Don't Need You?

Next, I want you to identify things that do not NEED to be done by you. Yes, you CAN do them, but do they actually need YOU, do they require your genius or your talent, or could someone else easily pick it up and run with, such as communications.

List Tedious Tasks

Now I want you to think about the tedious tasks. These are the ones that are just plain annoying. The kind of things that you push off until you can’t push them off anymore. Like paying a parking ticket.

Record Your Processes

Anytime you need to explain a process to an employee or a contractor, I want you to record it. You can do this using free video/screen share software like zoom. You can also take screenshots and type out the step by step instructions and put it into a google doc. Then I want you to take these files and recordings and put them in a folder called “employee handbook” and sort them into categories and title each task.

Create Brand Guidelines

Next, I want you to create a brand guidelines template for your business. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to nerd out on branding and marketing, and this is an area of your business that you want to take steps to protect, especially if you are outsourcing.

Outsource!

And now with all of these steps in place, you are finally ready to outsource those pesky tasks that do not need to be done by you. It took me a while for me to be able to let go of control of certain aspects in my business. So if this is you, you are not alone. It is completely normal to want to hold on to and protect these touch points in your business, but to that I have to tell you to just let it go. Holding onto these things is actually holding you back - and now that you have created the resources for streamlining your brand and easily moving responsibilities from person to person, you are ready! It won't be easy at first, but this is where I want to remind you that done is better than perfect. Perfection is a unicorn that just holds you back from moving forward.

Shop Links

Next I want you to consider where you can have shop links for your business on your website. Ok, so if you are a retail business this is likely very obvious. You post your product inside your ecommerce platform, payment is made, a confirmation receipt issued, inventory adjusted, and now you are notified that you will need to get the product to the buyer in whatever method was specified.

Batch Your Work

This is where I want you to batch your work. Batching your work means that you are setting up to do it once, and then doing the same type of task for an extended period of time so that you don't lose the time setting up for each task, and the time it takes to get into the brain space of that particular task.

Social Media Posting

Ok, next I want to dive a little deeper into automating your communications both internally and externally. For social media, there are tools you can use to set up your posts. For example, I use Planoly, a tool I have mentioned in previous episodes, for automating Instagram and Facebook posts. There are other tools on the market for this as well, such as Plann, Hootsuite, Later, Loomly, Buffer, and more. There are also tools for automating blog posts and podcasts inside of WordPress, Tailwind App is a great tool for automating Pinterest posts, and there are a variety of automation tools that can be used to segment and serve your email list as well so that you are reaching out serving and connecting with them as well. For this I use kajabi, but there is also Mailchimp, Convertkit, and a bunch of others. So now you can see that by using a combination of batch work, and automation tools, you can set up to write your social media captions, emails and blog posts in one sitting, and then set them up to roll out while you are focused on working on more pertinent things in your business day to day.

Money Stuff

I want to start by saying that I am very lucky to be served very well by my accountant and his team. Then I am going to say that identifying my weakness with managing money is something that I needed to be upfront within my business. For whatever reason money has always been one of those subjects that I shy away from. If I could give you absolutely everything you want and need in this world for free and still find a way to feed my family - trust me I would!! Well, I think this podcast is a good example of that.

Ok so there you have it, my top tips for getting your workflow in order - automating what you can and outsourcing the rest so that you can free yourself up for tiger time and focusing on actual growth in your business, doing the things that really need just you, working ON your business instead of in it. Think about those dreams that you’ve been simmering on the back burner. Do it for them!

And, hey, I know this might feel like a lot. I’m not suggesting you implement all of the automation immediately! Nah, just picks the top two or three that could help you today, and start there. BElieve me, once you see how much time you’re getting back to work ON your biz and not IN it, you’ll be looking for any chance to automate.

012: This Straightforward Exercise Will Get You Checking off the Tasks You DREAD.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 11 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Guest: Hilary Ladd, Decluttering Guru, Podcast Host, Educator

If you’re anything like me, you spend too much time stressing over the things you should be doing but never actually do them. It’s easy to get stuck procrastinating when there is just so much on your plate. My guest today is Hilary Ladd. She is a decluttering guru, podcast host, and educator. She’s here today to share a straightforward exercise that will get you checking off the tasks you D.R.E.A.D!

In 2014 Hilary changed her whole life in one day. She had felt stuck and unhappy in her life until an audition for The Sound of Music changed everything. Since then, Hilary has gone on to help others overcome their fears and get rid of the dread holding them back through her business, Be Notorious.

Hilary has some amazing advice for us in this episode. Here are some of the topics we cover:

The amazing story behind her business name
Allowing yourself to change your mind
Owning your own decisions when it comes to decluttering
How clutter is stopping you from moving on and taking up mental space
Understanding that it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing attitude.
Activities we dread as time stealers: How to get the time back
Hilary’s 5 step strategy for overcoming dread: Declutter. Rhythm. Enjoy it. Ask for help. Delegate.

>>> DOWNLOAD HILARY'S FREE GUIDE TO TACKLING THE TASKS YOU D.R.E.A.D.<<<

Find Hilary on Instagram here: Hilary Ladd

Listen to The Be Notorious Podcast

Today's Episode is brought to you by...

011: Need a Strategic Plan for Your Website, SEO, and Google Analytics? Listen to This.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 04 May 2020 10:27:00 +0000

Guest Allison K, Web and Brand Specialist

My friend, it is time to stop fearing the googz!

Do the words ‘SEO’ and ‘Google Analytics’ intimidate you? Well, I gotchu!

Today I’m chatting with Alison Knott, marketer, web developer, and strategist. Alison has years of experience in designing and marketing websites and runs her own consulting business helping people to optimize their sites.

Alison began her journey into all things tech as a young girl fascinated with coding. Wanting to learn more, she found options for young women limited and went into graphic design. She worked for small newspapers before moving into becoming a lead designer at a software company. After that company downsized, she started working for herself and Alison K Consulting was born. Now she works with service-based companies and non-profits to take their businesses to the next level by combining design, marketing, and data.

Today’s episode is filled with amazing insights and tips. Here’s a look at what Alison and I cover:

Understanding the constant changes online
Knowing your audience
The number one thing you need to know and do with your website
Why your website needs to be your BFF
Identifying the goals of your website and relating them to your business goals
Installing Google Analytics and using it to boost engagement
Creating plans for moving forward
Charting results
The difference between website hits and sessions and things in between
How to get people on to your site and to stay there
Taking advantage of and tips on how to use SEO
Why you should be alt-tagging your images

>> Learn how to install Google Analytics here <<

Grab Alison’s free guide ‘5 Things Everyone Forgets to Do for Their Website’

Find more information on the services Alison offers at https://alisonkconsulting.com

Check out today’s sponsors!

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

010: This Perspective Will Change Your Trajectory. Hit Play.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

I’ve been scared a lot in my business. Scared of not making enough money. Scared of the competition. Scared of using up my good ideas. Scared of running out of energy. Scared of embarrassing myself.

What do these fears have in common? They all come from a scarcity mindset. And, frankly, it’s one of the biggest things that will hold you back in business, and in life. So in this episode of the Workshop Weekly Podcast, I'm going to share some super powerful mindset shifts you can start making today to get a rock-solid foundation for going after all your big shiny goals. I’ll show you how to flip limited thinking into an abundance mindset that has no limits, and once you’ve mastered it, it will completely set you free! Does that sound good to you? I thought it might. Let’s do this!

This is The Insider's Guide to an Abundance Mindset. An abundance mindset lets you:

Live an unlimited, full, and satisfying life
Exude happiness despite circumstance
Give and receive affection and items of high value with ease
Feel plentiful, creative, and inspired
Take full advantage of and enjoy new opportunities that come your way
Create memorable and meaningful life experiences
and
Feel secure and confident in your life endeavors and create successful outcomes

Ok, so here are my top tips for cultivating an abundance mindset

The first thing you need to do is to start by becoming fully aware of your thoughts.
The next step is to practice gratitude.
Step three is to recognize the unlimited possibilities you have in your life.
Then, cultivate and share your passions and purpose.
Step five is to create Mastery Experiences for yourself.
Next up, step number 6 is simply watch what you say,
Step seven, my favorite, is Think Like a Beginner,
Step number eight is for those days you might be feeling a little down in the dumps: Focus on What Is Going Right,
And, ta-dah, step 9 is all about Creating Abundance Affirmations.

>>> DOWNLOAD THIS EPISODE'S FREE WORKBOOK HERE <<<

I totally get that this might feel overwhelming and kind of unnatural at first. But I promise, these steps really work. These little daily actions can really add up to a big shift. You can make the decision to start living a life of healthy abundance today by just taking one small step, and tomorrow another, and the next day another and so on. You’ll be abundance-snowballing in no time.

As you begin to expand your awareness you’ll get better and better at noticing those sneaky little scarcity mentality devils trying to bring you down. The best defense against them is to just keep using these action steps every day. Catch yourself. Stop yourself. Correct Yourself. Rinse and repeat. Before you know it, you’ll find an abundance mindset edging out the little devils.

OK, so now you’ve got everything you need to get into that abundance mindset that is necessary for success and happiness. Along with understanding the power of mindset, you’ve got 9 simple ways you can start immediately to cultivate more motivation, gratitude, and self-confidence in your life. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself naturally thinking in their powerful patterns! And remember - you possess something special, the world needs your magic. Don’t hold it back. There is enough success for you AND all those lovely humans you are comparing yourself to. You’ve totally got this, I believe in you, my workshop warrior!! And I’ll see you back here next week as you keep building the life and business of your dreams.

Recommended Reading: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

009: What You Need to Know to Master Photography with Your Smartphone.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Guest Mark Hemmings, Author of iPhone Photography for Dummies, 2020

Have you ever stumbled across someone’s work and just felt awestruck by it? For me, this is what happened when I found the work of Mark Hemmings about thirteen years ago. He is a magician with photography, with a timeless, real, and raw approach. Recently, he has found a niche by specializing in iPhone photography.

Mark was hired to go to Japan for student recruitment in 1997. Beforehand, he asked his grandfather if he could borrow his Nikon camera. From there, he learned a style of photography in Tokyo that was high key, and from there, he was able to craft his own signature style. Mark now does a lot of photography teaching on Instagram, where he attaches a lesson with most of the photos he posts. We get to hear a lot of tips from Mark today about taking great photos with your smartphone and how to edit them as well.

Mark’s beginnings as a photographer.
Teaching people photography through travel photos on Instagram.
Advice for people who want to take better photos with their phone.
Using older devices to take photos and fine-tuning composition skills.
Taking a one-photo-a-day challenge.
How to get started with photo editing.
A tip that Mark has recently learned in Japan and Mexico.
Struggling with the issue of blurry photos.
Looking at other peoples’ work for inspiration.
Two steps you can take today to improve your photography skills.

Products Mentioned

DJI Osmo: https://m.dji.com/product/osmo-mobile-3?from=google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImuDE-Ln16AIVxZ-zCh1l5AXfEAAYAiAAEgLZ8PD_BwE

Lightroom CC Mobile Download

https://www.adobe.com/ca/products/lightroom-mobile.edu.html

Photoshop Express

https://www.adobe.com/ca/products/photoshop-express.html

Adobe Photoshop Fix

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.adobephotoshopfix&hl=en_CA

Adobe Photoshop Mix

https://www.adobe.com/products/mix.html

Mophie

https://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-accessories/power-cables?page=1&fh=458e%2B3387%2B45d4

How to Hold your Smartphone Rule of Thirds Connect with Mark:

https://www.markhemmings.com/home https://www.instagram.com/markhemmings/

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

008: Here’s How to Build Your Content Empire.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 10:02:00 +0000

Guest Erin Trafford: Digital Content Strategist

If making passive income from your content is a revenue stream you’d like to add for yourself and your business, listen up. Today, I’m talking with award-winning broadcaster and digital content specialist, Erin Trafford. Erin is a wife, mom, and animal lover, who also happens to run a six-figure online business while working from home only three days a week. Erin started her journey as a broadcast journalist hosting a morning show where she was basically given the keys to the place. It was there that she learned if you want to be successful, it’s all about how your content resonates with people. After 16 years on air working in both radio and TV, she realized that she didn’t want to be part of the machine anymore and started her first business, DIY Passion. That business has since almost come to run itself and she now also run serintrafford.com where she helps business owners build their content empires.

Today’s episode is jam-packed with amazing info and insights.

Here is a sneak peek of what Erin and I cover:

What running a content company looks like
Having a blend of passive and active income
Roadblocks Erin dealt with in the early stages of her business
Dealing with negative comments and negative self-thoughts
Erin’s best tips and tidbits for listeners
Getting over the two most common fears related to content creation
Getting into affiliate marketing
Advice for getting eyeballs on your content
The power of Pinterest
One thing you can do right now to start building your content empire

How much is your content worth? Take Erin’s quiz to find out!

https://www.erintrafford.com/take-the-quiz

Erin's FREE Trello Planner:

https://www.erintrafford.com/downloads

Connect with Erin

https://www.erintrafford.com/

Instagram (shoot her a DM with your personal question!)

https://www.instagram.com/its.erintrafford

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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BONUS 001: How to Build Mental Toughness in the Face of Uncertainty.

Kelly Lawson — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:25:52 +0000

Guest Jane Walsh: Entrepreneur and Licensed Psychologist

Today is a special bonus episode of The Workshop Weekly. We are about three weeks into the world being flipped completely upside down due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. It’s not a stretch to say pretty much everyone has been left reeling from all the changes we’ve had to adapt to so quickly. Social isolation, job loss, and just the general sense of the unknown are just some of the struggles people are having to deal with. Maybe you’ve suddenly had to work from home and homeschool at the same time, experienced a total loss of income, or are trying to stay afloat while running your own business. Whatever you’re dealing with at the moment, I want you to take this hour to sit down, relax, and listen to this free one-hour counseling session. I’m chatting with my longtime friend and licensed psychologist, Jane Walsh. Jane is the owner and director of her private psychology practice, SJPsychology in New Brunswick. Sit down, relax, and just listen as we chat about how you can look after your body and your mind in these challenging times.

We cover:

Improving your mental toughness
Suggestions for people who may not know where to start their mental health journey.
Tactical tips for creating a positive mindset.
The benefits of physical health on mental health.
What meditation really means and the variety of ways you can meditate
Dealing with a business in times of crisis
Limiting your media consumption
Recommendations for listeners with a full house and new take on parenting
One thing you can do right now to improve your mental health

Jane’s meditation and mental health resources:

Visit Our Sponsors:

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007: Everything Instagram: Demystifying the Platform We Love to Hate.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 12:06:51 +0000

Is your relationship with Instagram, well, complicated? Love it or hate it, this platform can have a massive impact on your business, once you learn to master it. In today’s workshop, we’re demystifying the gram. I’m gonna unpack everything you need to know, from what and when to post, to the low-down on influencers and how to show up more confidently in Instagram stories. I’ll be serving up a ton of easy, actionable steps you can start taking today to turn Instagram from a joy-killing time-suck to a fun -yes, fun! - creative outlet and brand booster. Are you ready?

Here's a little snippet of what we're covering in this episode:

1. The most important thing: Instagram ENGAGEMENT

2. How Hashtags can effectively grow your following

3. How to show up confidently and consistently on Instagram Stories

4. How to use Instagram for Business

5. How to write effective captions

6. Personal posts versus work posts

7. The "swipe up" feature

8. Shadowbanning

9. Posting tactics and how often you should post

10. Photography for Instagram

11. How to write a great bio

I hope today’s show has you ready to rock the gram. This feels like an endless topic, we will definitely do some followup episodes. But hopefully, by now, you have a better sense of how Instagram can fit into your life, and your business strategy. You know it's all about consistency, a touch of strategy and, most all, it's all about you being your true self. So get posting, and I'll see you back here next week workshop warriors, to keep building the business and life you dream of.

>> GRAB THE FREE WORKBOOK NOW <<

RESOURCES

Hashtag finder: https://displaypurposes.com/

Instagram Automation and analytics tool Planoly https://www.planoly.com/

Banned Hashtags: https://www.socialinsider.io/blog/instagram-banned-hashtags-2018/

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

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006: Get Writing. How to Discover, Write and Share Your Brand Stories Online.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 16:34:41 +0000

Guest Katie Wallace: Educator, Brand Storyteller, Copywriter

Telling a story is one of the most powerful ways to get people to connect with your brand, but what if you feel like your story isn’t interesting or like you have nothing to say? A lot of people struggle with this, but it’s simply not true! Storytelling is such an important aspect of growing your brand. Stories create emotion, and emotion sparks action!

Today, I’m talking with Katie Wallace, longtime friend of mine and jack-of-all-trades writer, with journalism being her foundation. Katie is a brand storytelling wizard, and she is sharing her best brand storytelling tips about why you need it, where you need it, and how to do it.

Check out a summary of Katie’s top tips!

The five W's are your basic building blocks for any story

Who, what, where, when, and why; these five Ws that you might have learned as far back as grade school are still fundamental when trying to tell a story! Katie has pared this down to the even simpler three Ps: person, place, and problem.

Show, don’t tell

The more specific you get, the better! Sensory input is one of the best ways to get readers to connect with your story.

Open with your best stuff with the inverted pyramid writing technique

Picture an inverted pyramid, the top is where you want all your important stuff goes. Cut things first from the bottom that houses the less important info.

Editing is your best friend

When you’re done writing, always run your work through some sort of spell-check. Both Katie and I love Grammarly.

Pay attention, you’ll start to see stories everywhere in your life

Katie is offering my listeners a free copy of her e-book, 15 Brand Stories You Can Tell Today. Check it out and get started!

Edit your work for free with Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/

Check out Katie’s free e-book:

>> DOWNLOAD HERE <<

Connect with Katie:

https://www.instagram.com/story.by.kate/

CHECK OUT TODAY’S SPONSORS!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

005: Here’s How to Successfully Launch the Business of Your Dreams.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 15:21:32 +0000

Guest Renee Warren: Author, Educator and Entrepreneur

Do you have a great business idea and just don’t know where to start, or maybe you have already launched your business, but you need help standing out in a noisy space? If either of these scenarios sound like you, listen up, because today I am talking to entrepreneur extraordinaire, Renée Warren.

Renée is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and public speaker who now helps women launch and grow the businesses of their dreams through her company, We Wild Women. Today, I’m picking Renée’s brain for her best advice for first-time entrepreneurs looking to launch their businesses in this crazy world we live in.

Check out a summary of Renée’s tips below and listen to the podcast for her in-depth advice and anecdotes!

Customer and market validation are super important

You have to construct who your ideal customer is and then structure EVERYTHING you do around serving that ideal individual. Reach out and interview five or ten people with open, non-leading questions related to the main goal of your business to help you understand the core problem of your customer.

You have to take risks and learn to deal with criticism

A good network is critical to building a business. You have to surround yourself with knowledgeable people that build you up, but also aren’t afraid to tell you when you may be going a bit off course. Make sure to always take risks and always provide value when you do.

The right mindset is THE most important thing when you are starting a business

The most successful CEOs are those that are calm in a crisis and have some sort of meditative practice. Meditating doesn’t have to mean sitting quietly with your legs crossed for an hour; it’s anything that calms you down and resets your mind.

Ideal Client Discovery and Customer Validation Workbook from Episode 004

>> DOWNLOAD HERE <<

Connect with Renée:

https://www.wewildwomen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/renee_warren/

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

https://kellylawson.ca/mystyle

004: Are You Reaching Your Customer Online? Hit Play to Find Out.

Kelly Lawson — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 02:10:24 +0000

When I started out in business, I tried to be all the things to all the people. And you know what? It sucked. It sucked for me, and it sucked for my potential customers who weren’t sure, what, exactly I was all about. I lost sales and sleep over writing copy and content, sales and marketing, and big business decisions because I didn’t know who I was trying to reach.

In this episode of the Workshop Weekly podcast, we’re getting up close and personal with your ideal customer. If you’ve ever wondered what words to use in your marketing to drive sales and interaction, this episode is for you! We’ll dish up some simple steps you can take today to get zeroed in on your ideal customer so you’ll know exactly what to say and do to delight your ideal customer and grow that empire, starting RIGHT NOW!

An ideal customer represents your perfect customer. This one single person is the potential customer who wants and needs your content, your products, or your services. Their exact needs are met by your offer.

And to be perfectly clear - this also has to be someone who you want to work with, as well.

When I first got started, my ideal customer for my photography education, AND for this podcast, by the way, was actually me 10 years ago. A mother who is exploring the entrepreneurship scene, looking to escape the confines of her soulless job, looking to take control of her lifestyle, and really ramp up her business venture. She is hungry to connect with someone who has gone before her, yearning for more purpose in her life, eager and excited to learn how to do all of the things. If it sounds like I just described you, that is probably not a coincidence.

https://kelly-lawson.mykajabi.com/ideal-client-worksheet

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Chris Brogan Trust Agents -> https://kellylawson.ca/books

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

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003: It Starts with Self-Love. Learn How to Radically Love Your Body Here.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 21:10:52 +0000

Guest Amanda Hanson: Personal Stylist and Educator

Have you ever met someone and you just immediately thought - this is someone who I connect with? Like you just immediately know: I want this person in my life, and we are going to be friends for a long long time? That was how I felt when I first met Amanda. I was photographing her wedding actually, and I realised, this woman is a thinker, she shows up unapologetically, and she innately wants to help lift up the people around her. And, I learned since then, that our stories are actually very similar.

If confidence is something you struggle to find within yourself, I want you to settle in for this episode and hear Amanda’s advice for digging into your soul and uncovering the confidence that lies within you. I truly wish for every woman to hear her message and learn about the steps that need to be taken, and the work that needs to be done to radically love the skin that you are in. Not the someday skin, not the goal body, but to start loving who you are right now, today, so that you can show up in the world with your full potential. She is one of my most favorite people to talk to and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

>> To download Amanda's Free Workbook that accompanies this episode: 5 Ways to Radically Love Your Body click here <<

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

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002: No Money? No Problem! Dreamy PR Coverage Doesn’t Have to Cost a Thing.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:03:56 +0000

Guest Crystal Richard: PR Guru, East Coast Mermaid

Do you ever find that running a business like giving one pitch after another? When you stop and think about it, as entrepreneurs we’re constantly pitching potential and existing customers, community stakeholders and maybe even investors.

So as intimidating as pitching an editor at Forbes or the Huffington Post might be, you’re already doing it to some extent in other parts of your business.

Landing those dreamy media opportunities can do so many great things for your business, it can help you establish more street cred, grow your following, and most importantly create more awareness and demand for your products and services. These are all the reasons why it’s more than worth your time to figure out how to successfully pitch yourself or your business to media.

The question is: what’s the difference between a knockout pitch and the thousand other pitches that find their way into the trash?

Well in today’s episode I am chatting with the ever-delightful Crystal Richard of Crystal Richard and Co and she is going to tell you exactly how she gets her clients into publications like Forbes magazine. Crystal is a delight to chat with, a wealth of knowledge, and I think you are going to find her story pretty inspiring too. Without further ado, let’s find out how you can DIY your way into Forbes Magazine, today!

What Crystal says:

Always be pitching. Devote one hour per week to this. Pitch early in the day Monday through Thursday. Not late in the day, and not Fridays.
Get to know your potential media partners. Think about getting them to know, like and trust you.
Spend the time to familiarize yourself with the outlets that you want to be covered on. Find the writers you want to be covered by.

>> Grab Crystal's Free Pitch Template Here!<<

Get in touch with Crystal

https://www.instagram.com/crystal_catherine/

https://www.crystalrichard.com/

https://eastcoastmermaid.com/

Check out today’s sponsors!

Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:

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Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season:

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001: Make this Mindset Shift, and Start Living the Life of Your Dreams TODAY.

Kelly Lawson — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:29:08 +0000

Welcome to the Workshop Weekly Podcast with your host Kelly Lawson. Today Kelly is discussing the biggest barrier between you and your full potential: imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome can be explained as a constant feeling of inadequacy despite evidence of success. It is self-doubt even when you have external proof of your accomplishments.

Does this sound like something you’ve experienced? Imposter syndrome doesn’t discriminate; many professionals and highly successful individuals have experienced it at some point in their lives.

Kelly covers the six main themes related to imposter syndrome and what you can do to combat them, including daily exercises.

You can follow along in Kelly’s free workbook, available here.

1. My idea is not unique, there are so many others doing it well already.

There is only one of you and while your idea may not be unique, the way you will execute it is; no one will do it like you.

What if you tried replacing that shitty self-talk with this truth bomb:

YOU ARE UNIQUE - THERE IS LITERALLY ONLY ONE OF YOU.

Here’s the important thing you need to understand: your idea probably isn’t. And that’s ok.

MOST IDEAS ARE NOT ORIGINAL. MOST DREAMS ARE NOT UNIQUE.

2. I don’t feel ready.

The only way to beat fear is just to start. The sooner you do what scares you, the sooner it will become less scary.

Guess what? Things are never ready. So instead of waiting for a perfect moment that will never come, here’s what you’ve got to do:

JUST START - DESPITE NOT FEELING READY.

Easy right? Haha, ok, maybe that sounds easier said than done. Let’s explore.

The more you do the scary thing, the sooner it will become less scary, and the sooner you do it, the sooner you will get better and better at it.

3. What if I start and can’t stick with it?

Make a schedule and put other people in it, you’ll stay on track if you’re accountable to others.

This is when you need to

TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION - EVEN WHEN IT FEELS WRONG OR SCARY.

This one’s all about the practical steps that will naturally build momentum and fuel your progress.

IT’S ONLY MY FIRST EPISODE, BUT I THINK I KNOW YOU AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.

I know that you are the kind of person who is committed to the people in your life and would never want to let them down.

When it comes to putting your dreams, goals, and ideas first, well, that’s when things fall apart.

Today, that stops, ok? I want you to commit to yourself and follow your own big dream or big goal as if you’ve committed it to someone other than yourself. That can feel scary or even wrong, to put ourselves first. But you don’t serve others by sacrificing yourself.

4. What will people think or say?

Put on your blinders and stay focused. Stop the comparison game.

This one is a killer. Girlfriend, this is when you’ve gotta

PUT YOUR BLINDERS ON AND STAY FOCUSED.

Stay in your lane with what other people are doing, stop the comparison game, stay in your lane with regards to what other people might be thinking or saying, and stay in your lane with respect to ignoring the shiny objects.

5. The competition is too fierce.

Flip the belief that someone’s win is your loss; there is enough success to go around.

You might not know this already, but it is a cold hard fact that mindset can radically affect the course of your life. Overwhelming research on mindset shows that the way you think about yourself and the world around you can drastically change the way you learn, how you handle stress, how you create success, your resilience, and even how your immune system functions.

YOU CAN BOTH WIN!

We’re going to deep-dive into the abundance mindset in an upcoming episode. For now, I just want you to pay attention to those times when you find yourself begrudging someone else’s success, or playing that tiny, sad “I’ll never succeed” violin to yourself.

You can, and you will, but not with that mindset.

6. I don’t deserve any accolades.

Don’t minimize your achievements, but give credit where it is due.

What if you kicked this self-deprecation to the curb and instead

OWN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES

Hopefully, by now you’ve learned that imposter syndrome doesn't discriminate. I mean, even the majority of HARVARD grads identify with imposter syndrome. I'm sure that somewhere along the way Oprah and Beyonce have had to come to terms with their own imposter syndromes before they could realize their own success. So we need to work on your self-talk. I want you to write down all of your credentials for the thing that you are dreaming of doing or the goal that you want to knock out of the park. Seriously, grab a pen and Write em down! And by the way, a reminder that there is a workbook to go with this episode that summarizes and outlines everything for you so you can just go in and fill these things out.

Sometimes, in an effort to avoid sounding like a blowhard, you might become overly modest, but keeping your success to yourself and minimizing your achievements can be a problem too. Perhaps you just got a promotion, and you don’t tell your friends the good news because you’re afraid they’ll think you’re bragging. Consequently, they miss out on celebrating with you. Or maybe you’re talking to your boss during your annual performance review, and you downplay your achievements to avoid sounding like a narcissist. Ultimately, you may get passed over for a promotion.

Kelly’s free guide to taking product photos that sell:

Read The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People https://kellylawson.ca/books

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