AI & Automation
Three years of watching AI content, and I genuinely could not tell you what I had to show for it. I played with platforms. My feed was full of people calling themselves experts. A lot of noise, not much payoff. Then the CustomGPT suite I built changed that a little. Sales came in. Okay, maybe not a total waste. Then came the website move. I had 101 blog posts on a platform with no export button. It was not going to make leaving easy. I did not know how to get them out other than manual copy-and-paste, so I just…
Most small business owners have a general idea of how much money they made last quarter. They couldn’t tell you much beyond that. Which webpage brought in the most visitors? Whether those visitors did anything once they got there. Which part of their marketing actually moved someone toward buying, and which part just kept them busy? That stuff stays fuzzy for most people, most of the time. And without that picture, every quarter looks a lot like the last one. That used to be as far as you could take it without hiring someone to dig in with you. Not…
I saw something this week that I haven’t been able to shake. A creator announced they’re automating their Instagram DM replies and then teaching a class on how to do it. Not scheduling, not email sequences. The actual back-and-forth with real people who reached out. I keep thinking about that alongside everything I read about how lonely people are right now. Happiness levels are dropping and disconnection is everywhere, and the fix we’re building is a bot that replies to someone who took the time to reach out? I understand the logistics of a huge account. That’s not what’s bothering…
“Six months. Twelve subscribers. Three are family.” You’re doing everything they told you to. You have a freebie. You mention it in your social media posts. You’ve even put a little sign-up form on your website. And yet, your email list is a ghost town. A few tumbleweeds roll by now and then, but for the most part, it’s just… quiet. You feel like you’re shouting into the void, and the void isn’t even bothering to echo back. You think you need to be louder. More aggressive. More… annoying. You’ve been told that if your list isn’t growing, you’re not…
“Nobody wants another ‘10% off’ popup.” They tell you to “build your list.” They make it sound so simple. Just offer a freebie, they say. A checklist. A guide. An “ethical bribe.” And so you do. You spend a week creating a PDF that you’re actually proud of. You put it on your website. You wait. And then… crickets. Or worse, you get a handful of subscribers who download your freebie and then vanish into the digital ether, never to be heard from again. It feels… transactional. Like you’re starting a relationship with a handshake when you’re looking for a…
They ask you to write another email. And you’d rather scrub your grout with a toothbrush. You know you need to email your list. You know it’s the only marketing channel you actually own. But the thought of coming up with another idea, writing another subject line, and staring at another blank screen makes you want to throw your laptop into the ocean. It’s not that you don’t have anything to say. It’s that the pressure to be brilliant, witty, and strategic in every single email is exhausting. It feels like a marathon with no finish line. You think you…
They ask your price. Your voice goes up like a question. You feel a hot flush of panic. You start explaining. You justify. You might even offer a discount before they’ve even blinked. You’re so worried they’ll think it’s “too expensive” that you preemptively apologize for the number you probably already under-charged. Sound familiar? Your voice goes up like a question. You’ve been told to “know your worth.” You’ve seen the inspirational quotes. You’ve probably even done the math, figured out your costs, and landed on a price that feels… okay. But when it comes time to actually say it…
Fifteen seconds into explaining. Their eyes glaze over. You know the look. That polite nod. The smile that doesn’t quite reach their eyes. The person who asked what you do is now mentally writing their grocery list while you’re mid-sentence. It happens at networking events. Family dinners. Even on sales calls with people who should want to hear this. You’re not boring. Your work isn’t boring. But somewhere between “So what do you do?” and your answer, you lost them. And here’s what nobody’s telling you: this isn’t about your elevator pitch needing work. It’s not about confidence. It’s about…
Let’s play a game. It’s called “I know I need to email my list, but I’d rather scrub my grout with a toothbrush.” Sound familiar? It’s not that you don’t have anything to offer. It’s that the pressure to be brilliant, witty, and profound in every single email is enough to make your brain shut down completely. So you just… don’t. And another week goes by, your list gets colder, and the cycle continues. AI is supposed to help with this, right? But if you’ve ever typed “write a newsletter” into ChatGPT, you know the generic, soul-crushingly boring garbage it…
You know that feeling right before you hit ‘send’ on a newsletter? That little voice that whispers, “Am I annoying them? Is everyone going to unsubscribe? Does this make me look like a desperate, spammy asshole?” Yeah, that one. That feeling is why your email list is gathering digital dust. You know you should be emailing them, but the thought of actually doing it makes you want to go clean your oven or organize your spice rack. Anything but face the blinking cursor. Here’s the gut punch: That fear isn’t about you being annoying. It’s about you not having a…
You know what nobody tells you about running a business? That you’d spend more time writing Instagram captions than actually doing the work you want to do. The work you’re good at. The work that actually serves your clients. Last month, how many hours did you lose to marketing tasks? Not strategy. Not relationship building. Just the repetitive grind. Writing captions. Scheduling posts. Tweaking email subject lines. Reformatting the same content for different platforms. If you’re like most business owners, it was easily 10-15 hours. Maybe more. And at the end of it, you were exhausted, the content was mediocre, and…
It’s 10 PM on a Tuesday. The house is quiet. You finally have a moment to “work on your marketing.” You open Instagram, and the scroll begins. An hour later, you’ve watched 17 Reels about nothing, saved a few posts you’ll never look at again, and felt a fresh wave of anxiety wash over you. You’ve posted nothing. You’ve engaged with no one who matters. And the only thing you’ve accomplished is feeling like you’re failing at a game you never asked to play. This is the reality of social media overwhelm for countless entrepreneurs. If you’re an entrepreneur staring…
You’re doing everything “right,” so why does it feel so wrong? Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t your fault. You’re not lazy. You’re not a bad business owner. You’re not “bad at social media.” You’re a smart, capable entrepreneur who’s been fed a steady diet of bullshit from the “social media industrial complex.” They’ve sold you a system designed to keep you on the hamster wheel, a system that profits from your confusion and rewards your frantic activity with fleeting vanity metrics. They’ve convinced you that the answer to your marketing woes is always “more,” when the real problem…
Major Update to Buyer Persona GPT I’ve just pushed a major update to the Buyer Persona GPT and if you’re using it to understand your audience, this is going to make your work faster, deeper, and even more useful. Here’s what’s new: It now auto-translates into whatever language you write in French in, French out. Portuguese in, Portuguese out. No settings to change — it just follows your input. It now thinks more like a real person Not just surface-level traits. You’ll get richer emotional insight, deeper motivations, and stronger psychological detail – the kind of data that actually helps…
ChatGPT 5.0 is here. Yippee. Cue the stampede of “must-watch” webinars, $997 bootcamps, and 23-minute YouTube breakdowns on the “hidden features you can’t afford to ignore.” Translation: Another round of tech-drunk hype designed to make you feel late to a party you never RSVP’d to. Here’s the truth: If your business sucked yesterday, ChatGPT 5.0 won’t save it. If your business worked yesterday, ChatGPT 5.0 won’t suddenly make it obsolete. What it will do? Distract the hell out of you if you let it. Steal hours you should be spending talking to actual customers. Convince you to rebuild systems that…
Running a Business Solo: The Challenge Running a business solo means you’re doing it all—serving clients, creating content, managing tech, and handling every decision in between. It’s no surprise that it can feel scattered and exhausting. What if you could get a little breathing room? What if the tools you’re already using actually reduced your workload? Meet ChatGPT Tasks: Your Quiet, Reliable Assistant There’s a feature inside ChatGPT that can help. It’s called Tasks (available with ChatGPT Plus), and it works like a quiet, reliable assistant that helps with the repetitive parts of your business—without needing reminders or direction every…
You’re scrolling through your social media feed, and there it is again – another post from your competitor showing their latest success. Their bright pictures, glowing customer reviews, and cool new products make you feel a tight knot of envy in your stomach. “Why isn’t that me?” you wonder, your mind swirling with frustration and self-doubt. You can almost hear the buzz of their busy business, see the flood of customers, and feel the weight of their popularity pressing down on you. But what if, instead of feeling jealous, you started to admire them? Picture this: Instead of a sinking…
I get it—you’re an overachiever who doesn’t want to look stupid. You might worry that trying something new and failing will make you look unprofessional or inexperienced. But here’s the thing: if you want to be found by new customers, you need to experiment and put yourself out there. A saying I recently heard and really related to is, “Shit makes everything grow,” and I got thinking how true that is. Whether you’re growing a garden or a business, shit will help you grow! Think about it this way: Fertilizer in the Garden: Just like how compost helps plants…
Every day feels like a battle. You work hard, create content, run ads, but nothing seems to connect. You worry that you’re not reaching the right people. This constant doubt is draining and frustrating. You see other businesses thriving and can’t help but wonder, “What are they doing that I’m not?” Each failed campaign feels like a personal failure, making you feel even more isolated and unsure. You want to connect with your audience, but it feels like you’re missing the mark. Without clear guidance, your marketing feels like throwing spaghetti at the wall, hoping something will stick. The fear…
As a small business owner, you wear many hats, and marketing might not be your favourite one. You might feel like you’re always playing catch-up with the latest social media algorithms or email marketing best practices. It’s not just about keeping up with trends; it’s about feeling confident in your marketing efforts. You value authenticity and community, and you don’t want your business to come off as pushy or salesy. You want your marketing to feel genuine and aligned with your values. If you’re a woman who feels overwhelmed by marketing, you’re not alone. The world of marketing can seem…
The world’s most valuable skill is copywriting. Unfortunately, the constant need to prove themselves keeps many from ever mastering it. They spend hours (and usually a ton of money) trying to learn traditional marketing methods, all the while failing to realize the world has changed. The traditional way of marketing isn’t relevant anymore—because now, in order to be successful, you have to connect authentically and emotionally with your audience. I know, because I wasted years and thousands of dollars trying to learn this myself. But, my loss is your gain. Here are 5 powerful copywriting frameworks that will save you…
Ever found yourself stuck in a rut, waiting for a lightning bolt of inspiration to strike? As an online marketer, I’ve come to understand some of the common challenges that women face in creating content. One that stands out is the tendency to wait for the elusive ‘perfect’ content idea. Many women trying to grow their audience find themselves in a holding pattern, waiting for a new, game-changing idea. They believe that only a revolutionary idea can make a difference, and in doing so, they overlook many of the opportunities that lie within their grasp. The real obstacle isn’t the…
The holiday season brings joy, but for women running small businesses, it also comes with added stress. Balancing holiday campaigns, family commitments, and staff events can be overwhelming. To alleviate some of the pressure, we’ve compiled a list of common mistakes to avoid when planning your holiday campaign. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you can navigate this critical sales period with confidence and success. 1. Plan ahead Don’t leave holiday planning to the last minute. Starting at least three months in advance gives you time to organize and execute a campaign that represents your brand and resonates with your…
Storytelling has always been a powerful tool that captivates and engages audiences. In the realm of email marketing, the art of storytelling can make a significant difference in how your subscribers respond to your messages. By incorporating storytelling techniques into your emails, you have the opportunity to create compelling narratives that resonate with your audience, leaving a lasting impact. Gone are the days of simply sending promotional emails with generic content. Today, subscribers crave authentic connections and meaningful experiences. Storytelling allows you to tap into their emotions, making your emails more relatable, memorable, and persuasive. In this article, we…
In today’s competitive digital landscape, it’s crucial for businesses to connect with their customers on a personal level. One effective way to achieve this is through personalized email marketing. By tailoring your content to meet the unique needs and interests of your audience, you can boost customer relationships, increase open rates and click-throughs, and enhance overall satisfaction. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of incorporating personalized content into your email campaigns and provide tips on how to do it effectively. Find out why personalizing emails with the recipient’s name is essential for boosting open rates and click-throughs.…
Why You Should Focus on Email Marketing Are you a busy entrepreneur juggling family, work, and community activities? If so, you’re in the right place. You may already be marketing your business in many ways, but did you know that emails can offer a massive return on your investment? We’re talking about an average return of $42 for every $1 you spend on email marketing. In this guide, we’ll show you how to craft effective Calls-to-Action (CTAs) in your emails to win more customers. The Importance of a Good Call-to-Action (CTA) A CTA is a button or link…
Are you ready to level up your email game and leave a lasting impression on your subscribers? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re going to dive deep into the art of crafting irresistible subject lines that will have your audience eagerly clicking “open.” Why Subject Lines Matter The Overcrowded Digital Space Let’s face it – in an overcrowded digital world where our attention spans are shorter than ever before, nailing that perfect subject line is crucial. It’s like finding the key to unlock a treasure chest filled with engagement and conversions. And who doesn’t want…
When it comes to nurturing relationships with our audience, email marketing remains one of the most effective channels. However, if our newsletters lack enthusiasm or fail to ignite any excitement among our subscribers, we risk losing their attention altogether. Fear not – in this article, we will share five valuable tips on how you can spice up your email newsletter content and keep your subscribers engaged. Tip 1 – Craft Irresistible Subject Lines: The first step in grabbing the reader’s attention starts with a captivating subject line. To craft compelling subject lines for maximum impact: Keep it concise yet…
Being a female entrepreneur often feels like running a marathon with no finish line in sight. You pour your heart into your business, spending countless hours crafting the perfect posts on social media, only to see them disappear in the endless scroll. The dream of growing your customer base seems just out of reach, no matter how many late nights you spend strategizing. Why Email is Your Lifeline In the maze of fleeting likes and shares, email stands as your most trusted ally. It’s a direct conversation. It’s intimacy in the digital age. If you’re feeling lost in…
Empathy is the key to unlocking successful marketing for small business owners. By understanding and empathizing with your customers’ needs, desires, and pain points, you can create marketing messages and strategies that genuinely connect with them, build trust, and drive long-term, loyal customer relationships. In today’s fast-paced business landscape, it’s not enough to have an excellent product or service. Your customers expect more; they want to feel heard, understood, and appreciated. In this blog post, we’ll explore how small business owners can use empathy to drive sales and create meaningful connections with their customers. Here are some ways small…