The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations (Kara Duncan)
Explore every episode of The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations
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| 30 Dec 2023 | 1 | My "All of a Sudden" Moment (+ How You Can Have One Too) | 00:21:50 | |
Happy New Year! I am so excited. Not only am I kicking the new year off, obviously launching this new podcast, but I am ALSO kicking things off with an absolute banger of an episode. I almost named my whole podcast off of this episode (and this idea of how to have an all-of-a-sudden moment and how I can help you have more all-of-a-sudden moments).
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| 02 Jan 2024 | 2 | How to Use One of the BIGGEST 2024 Marketing Trends in Your Business (+ 3 Ways to Make it Easier!) | 00:22:12 | |
If you know me, you know I’m all about this time of year. I mean, who doesn’t love the holidays, right? But you know what else gets me pumped? Goal setting season! I’m a total goals person, and as a marketer, I’m obsessed with the data that comes out during this time. Give me all those juicy marketing trends we’re expecting, what worked in 2023, and the best strategies from last year. I’m soaking it all up (especially the “wrapped” posts coming out for literally everything). Today, I’m going to be diving deep into one of the biggest 2024 marketing trends predictions: long-form content.
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| 02 Jan 2024 | 3 | I'm Kind of an Awkward Person... THIS is How I Market My Business Anyway | 00:20:46 | |
I'm an admittedly awkward person, which is funny because I work in marketing. If you're also an introvert who prefers not to show up on Instagram stories (or do a daily search for faceless Instagram reels ideas), this episode is for you.
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| 09 Jan 2024 | 4 | 3 Things You Need Setup BEFORE Pinterest Marketing (Make Sure You Aren't Wasting Your Time!) | 00:22:53 | |
We are ONE week into 2024, and I don't know about you, but it feels like everybody is ready just to start a mutiny against Instagram. Everyone is sharing their goals, their marketing efforts, what they're focusing on, what they're calling in, all of that fun stuff, and hustling on Instagram is NOT it.
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| 16 Jan 2024 | 5 | Building a Strong Personal Brand as a Service Provider (and Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur) with Sarah Beau | 00:33:40 | |
If you've been looking to grow a strong personal brand as a service based business (or a multi-passionate entrepreneur), this interview is for YOU.
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| 23 Jan 2024 | 6 | Are You Marketing More Like Matcha or Coffee? Here's How to Decide on the Best Strategy | 00:14:46 | |
Are you marketing like matcha or like coffee? Hear me out on this one. I've recently switched to matcha in the afternoons over coffee (and if you know me, I am a huge coffee drinker!) because I find that it helps me overcome the afternoon slump.
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| 30 Jan 2024 | 7 | Using the 4C's of Conversion to Create Your Instagram Marketing Strategy with Laura Milroy Media | 00:48:17 | |
I'm in marketing, but I don't specialize in Instagram marketing strategy. Today, I wanted to bring you guys my biz bestie turned real life bestie, Laura Milroy Media to spill the dirt on what we should be doing and what we need to know about social media strategy in 2024. In this episode, she shares her 4Cs of conversion, what we should be doing with B-roll, how we can become better storytellers, how we can kind of combine Instagram with the rest of our business, and so much more.
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| 06 Feb 2024 | 8 | Want More Sales From Your Website? Fix These 2 Pages | 00:10:41 | |
2024 is going to be all about the little tweaks we can make in our business that create a bigger impact. Don't you agree? I am so tired of the "burn it all down", of the create a course, then create a membership, then do this, then do that. Even though that has been great and has definitely served us for a season (let's ignore the fact that we're all burnt out and half of us are completely leaving entrepreneurship), I feel like I am very ready for the shift that's happening.
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| 13 Feb 2024 | 9 | 4 Ways to Get More People To Find Your Blogs in Google | 00:19:36 | |
What's the point of blogging if you're not being found on Google? Okay, I am obviously a blogging stan, so I could go on and on about the benefits of blogging beyond SEO, but the truth is SEO is probably the biggest reason you're reading this right now. After all, you want to be found on Google. That's kind of the whole point.
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| 20 Feb 2024 | 10 | You Can Fire Me But You Can't Hurt Me (+ Other Advice When Selling "Yourself") | 00:16:32 | |
Have you ever had a difficult client? Have you ever got stuck in your head and spent more time thinking about the client and how you can make them happy than you did actually doing the work? Have you ever had a bad day that was caused by someone not absolutely loving what you created for them? Today's episode is for you. It's going to be, I want to say a little more vulnerable and a little bit more motivational than the content that I usually put out, but that's one of the things I wanted to do on this podcast. On my Instagram and on my blog, I typically will stick to marketing content. That's what I do for work, that's what I'm selling, that's what I do for a job. But I really wanted this podcast to be a space for just honest conversations and that's what this is. Today, I'm excited to share three things that I think we just need to remember when we are what we're selling, whether it's our work or our brand. It is hard not to take things personally. So here's my advice when selling yourself!
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| 27 Feb 2024 | 11 | Beyond Instagram: A Deep Dive into Omni-Channel Marketing with Candice Coppola | 00:48:01 | |
I think I literally jumped for joy when Candice Coppola agreed to be a guest on the podcast. To know her is to love her, she's an author, podcast host, business coach, and entrepreneur who believes that you shouldn't have to do business (or happy hour) alone. In this interview, we talked about her omni-channel marketing approach, what it is, how she views marketing differently, how she used Instagram as a part of her strategy (but not her entire strategy), and so much more. So if you know or you have been feeling that kind of itch to start diversifying your marketing efforts, this is the episode for you.
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| 05 Mar 2024 | 12 | How Much Does it Cost to Scale Your Business With Ads? Setting Realistic Numbers and Expectations with Melissa Litchfield | 00:41:17 | |
Melissa brought REAL data and numbers in this episode, where she shared exactly what running ads in 2024 looks like, the buzzwords that aren't working anymore, and how we can better set realistic expectations when it comes to how fast things will work (and how much it will cost!). I absolutely loved this conversation and I can't wait to share it here today!
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| 12 Mar 2024 | 13 | 7 Important Reminders if You Want to Make More Sales From Pinterest | 00:19:07 | |
Today I have a fun episode! I was recently planning my toddler's 2-year-old birthday and obviously the first place I went is Pinterest. I don't think that's a surprise to anyone, and I kind of was just really nerdily thinking about my buying decisions, what my natural user behaviors are, and that kind of stuff. So as I was planning and shopping, I gathered seven things we need to remember about the way that people use Pinterest specifically when making a buying decision. Want more sales from Pinterest? That's what I want to talk about today. Let's get into it.
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| 19 Mar 2024 | 14 | The Surprising Secrets to Standing Out: Strategic Branding for Service Providers with Ellie Brown Branding | 00:43:24 | |
Even after seven years in business, I still sometimes think of branding as this intangible thing. We know we need it to stand out. Nobody is disputing that good design and strategic branding for service providers has a strong ROI. It's been proven over and over again, and yet it's still something that I feel a lot of business owners—who are not designers, have questions about. It's more that we don't know the right questions to ask. So that's why I am THRILLED to say that I brought Ellie from Ellie Brown Branding on the podcast to talk about brand and website design for service providers. She was absolutely fabulous. She's such a talented designer based in Cañon City, Colorado, and works primarily with service-based businesses and lots of local businesses. So, if you're a service provider or you are in Cañon City or Colorado, definitely hit her up.
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| 26 Mar 2024 | 15 | Embracing Work-Life Alignment By Balancing Mindset and Systems with Alane Gianetti | 00:39:48 | |
Have you ever felt like achieving the next revenue milestone or booking a certain number of projects would solve all your problems? I brought on Alane, who shares her experience of having her best year in business when she booked 93 weddings but still felt burned out. It’s crazy to think about 93 weddings, but I can really relate to the idea that more money, work, and clients don’t necessarily fix everything. And they definitely don’t give you that “work-life alignment” everyone is looking for!
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| 02 Apr 2024 | 16 | 3 Hacks to Write Blog Posts Faster + For the “Skimmers” | 00:10:21 | |
Everybody is short on time, whether it's you writing the blog post or your ideal client reading the blog post, nobody wants anything to take any longer than it absolutely has to, right? So today, I'm going to share three blogging hacks that will make it easier for you to write your blog post (and make your posts more digestible for your ideal client to read it).
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| 09 Apr 2024 | 17 | Taking Keywords to Conversions: Breaking Down SEO with Mariah Magazine | 00:47:19 | |
How do we go from keywords to conversions? That is the infamous question. How do we rank on Google in a way that will not only get us found, but also get us paid? You guys know I am passionate about this, but today on the podcast, I actually have brought on someone who might be even more passionate than I am to start breaking down SEO. I have brought you Mariah, an award-winning organic SEO consultant and online business educator for entrepreneurs. She covered so much and let me pick her brain about AI and Google, what we are supposed to do if nobody is searching for our keywords and so much more! She makes breaking down SEO sound SO easy. I can't wait to share her brilliance on the podcast today.
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| 16 Apr 2024 | 18 | How to Make Blog Posts Longer Without Adding Fluff (+ Candid Thoughts About the March Algorithm Change) | 00:16:44 | |
So you're trying to hit a specific word count on WordPress or on your blog. But how do you do it without adding in a ton of fluff? Today, we're going to talk about how to make blog posts longer without filling them with garbage. Make sure to listen to the end to hear my thoughts on (or shall I say rant on) "SEO being dead" and the new Google algorithm. Let's get into it.
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| 23 Apr 2024 | 19 | Managing Inconsistent Revenue Months in 2024 with Tiffany Scarlett | 00:40:38 | |
Do inconsistent revenue months stress you out? If so, you are not alone. Most of us are dealing with inconsistent revenue months. And it can be stressful AF. Even in my own business (where a majority of my clients are on monthly retainers), I still deal with inconsistency in the number of VIP days booked, or in my wedding business during "busy season".
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| 30 Apr 2024 | 20 | 11 Business Lessons from Working With Multi-6 + 7 Figure Business Owners | 00:32:03 | |
Do you ever wonder what people who have more successful businesses are doing? I know I always swipe through on carousels and listen to episodes like this, and often it's the same kind of things, like "they're consistent", "they charge their worth", kind of basic advice like that. This episode is not like that.
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| 07 May 2024 | 21 | Should You Do What Meta Recommends? Here's What an OG Instagram Strategist Has to Say with Ashley Watkins | 00:38:18 | |
Have you been feeling frustrated with the 'Gram lately? I know every single one of you are probably raising your hand right now. That is EXACTLY why I brought Ashley Watkins onto the podcast today. If you've been following me for a while, you know, I have had a love/hate relationship with Instagram. Like I am sure everybody else has. Should we be doing what Meta recommends now? As an OG Instagram strategist, Ashley tells us today!
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| 21 May 2024 | 22 | Your Desire to be Different is Costing You Money | 00:11:11 | |
Trying very hard to come up with unique ways to say things so that you don't sound like everyone else in your industry? While I do think there is merit to that, the truth is that I made more money when I STOPPED trying to be a unique little snowflake and instead focused on exactly what my audience was looking for (and using THEIR words to write my content and copy).
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| 28 May 2024 | 23 | Should You Repurpose Your Instagram Posts on Pinterest? My Honest Opinion. | 00:12:10 | |
Today, I want to talk about something new that's happening on Pinterest. Pinterest is giving more and more accounts the ability to claim their Instagram (again - since we used to be able to do this in the past). But what do we do with it once it's claimed? Should we be auto-posting our Instagram posts to Pinterest? Should we be repurposing our content? We're going to cover all of that today.
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| 04 Jun 2024 | 24 | 6 Tips For How To Write Better Headlines In 2024 | 00:18:42 | |
As a small business owner, your success depends on your ability to attract customers and stand out from the competition. One of the most effective ways to do this is by creating headlines that actually grab the reader’s attention and entice them to explore your content further (whether that content is coming from a reel, blog, Youtube video, or podcast!).
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| 11 Jun 2024 | 25 | 3 Things You Need To Have To Get Out Of Feast Or Famine Marketing Mode | 00:13:09 | |
Are you stuck in a feast or famine marketing cycle where sometimes there’s too much work and other times it feels like your email must not be working? Today, I want to help you explore a new marketing strategy that will take you from feast or famine marketing to consistent, high-quality leads. Don't worry - you've got this!
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| 18 Jun 2024 | 26 | Your Low-Effort, High-Impact Summer Marketing Plan (Do These 3 Things!) | 00:12:12 | |
I know as entrepreneurs it can sometimes be so easy to fall off the bandwagon during the summer. That's why today, I'm sharing three pretty low effort, high impact things I want you to focus on this summer. And don't worry, I am practicing what I preach here, because I will be implementing these things in my own business as well! Let's all focus on creating a summer marketing plan that sets you up for success in the fall. We all get that new fall energy, right? We're going to talk about three marketing activities you should do this summer to make your life easier when that fall energy hits. Your future self will thank you. So, let’s get in
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| 25 Jun 2024 | 27 | Stop Marketing By Accident: What a Real Marketing Strategy Looks Like with Tayler Cusick Hollman from Enji | 00:52:49 | |
The word strategy feels overused these days but how do we know if we're just marketing by accident? And if we know that we're just kind of winging it, how do we stop? I've brought Tayler from Enji to talk all about what a REAL marketing strategy looks like, and how we as small businesses can actually use one to grow our businesses without losing our minds in the process.
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| 27 Aug 2024 | 36 | Coming Up With Buzz-worthy Content Ideas (That Actually Generate Sales For Your Business) with Nicole Czarnecki | 00:50:28 | |
How do we actually come up with ideas for our marketing content? That's exactly what I want to know, and Nicole Czarnecki has answers. Nicole is absolutely brilliant at the creative side of marketing, especially the kind that's very intentional and designed to drive real results. Sometimes, we think of marketers as either creative types or data-driven types. Personally, I lean more towards the blogging side because I don't consider myself overly creative—I find the keyword first, and then the idea follows. On the other hand, those who excel at social media content tend to lean more into the creative piece, though, of course, there are exceptions. But here’s the thing about Nicole: she’s incredibly creative, yet you’d never expect her to be so strategically focused. After many conversations with her, I’m consistently blown away by her brilliance, and I’m beyond excited to share our latest conversation with you on the podcast today. So, let's get into it!
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| 02 Jul 2024 | 28 | I Started a Podcast 6 Months Ago! Here's How It's Going... | 00:35:47 | |
It's okay to be nosy 😉 Six months ago, I pressed publish on my podcast. And it has been really fun! I can't believe it's already been six months, so I thought this would be a super fun episode to just talk about how things are going, what I've learned, answering questions I've been asked, etc. This is NOT like a "tips to have a podcast" episode, it's more just me sharing behind-the-scenes being really new at something again!
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| 09 Jul 2024 | 29 | The Business Systems Trifecta You Have Been Missing with Sandra Henderson | 00:40:49 | |
There are so many buzzwords in the online space and it can constantly make you feel like you're missing out. For example, today's guest is coming on to talk all about systems, specifically, her systems trifecta, which is three things that your systems absolutely need to actually be helpful. So many people will tell you that you "need systems", but nobody tells you how to go about creating them in your business and what they look like when they're working.
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| 23 Jul 2024 | 31 | Proven Methods to Find the Perfect Topics: Never Run Out of Blog Ideas Again | 00:18:11 | |
How should you come up with blog topics? That's one of my most frequently asked questions. People either say, "I have so many ideas, I can't get my thoughts out," or "I sit at a blank screen with no idea what to blog about." After doing this for four years, I have a system.
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| 16 Jul 2024 | 30 | An Advanced Conversation for Creatives Using AI (Chat GPT Tips + New Tools to Try) with Lauren deVane | 00:40:32 | |
There are so many buzzwords in the online space and it can constantly make you feel like you're missing out. For example, today's guest is coming on to talk all about systems, specifically, her systems trifecta, which is three things that your systems absolutely need to actually be helpful. So many people will tell you that you "need systems", but nobody tells you how to go about creating them in your business and what they look like when they're working.
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| 06 Aug 2024 | 33 | Soft Life vs. Hustle Culture: How to Slow Down But Still Hit Your Goals with Simone Little | 00:34:50 | |
Not working all the time has been a struggle for me because I genuinely love what I do. Like many entrepreneurs, I have a tendency to overcommit myself. I often don't notice the effects until it's almost too late and I'm way overextended. I genuinely enjoy the projects I take on and the clients I work with. However, I want to live my life too. If this resonates with you, you're going to love this episode. I brought on Simone to discuss why work-life balance doesn't exist and how we can release guilt while remaining productive. We'll explore how to get out of hustle mode while still accomplishing our goals. To be clear, we're not suggesting you can stop hustling, sit on your couch, and make a million dollars a year. That's not what this podcast is about. (If I figure out how to do that, I'll definitely pass it on!) What you'll find in this episode are practical examples and customizable advice, which I really loved. Let's get into it!
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| 30 Jul 2024 | 32 | 3 Weird Things I've Done to Get More Wedding Clients | 00:10:14 | |
Today, I want to talk about three weird things I've done to get more wedding clients. This episode is going to be different because I'm not saying, "Do these three things and you'll explode your business." I want to talk about subtle things and hopefully get you to brainstorm different ways to market your business beyond social media, blogging, and Pinterest, which I always talk about here. So let's get into it.
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| 13 Aug 2024 | 34 | Is Your Business Ready to Hire a Virtual Assistant? Don't Make These Mistakes with Sophie Robinson | 00:38:29 | |
Is Your Business Ready to Hire a Virtual Assistant? Or have you tried hiring virtual assistants in the past based on advice from your business coach or business bestie? Maybe you’ve hired one, maybe you’ve hired many, and you’re always like, “why is it not the magic pill that everyone says it’s going to be”? That is what we’re going to talk about today. But before we dive in, I also just want to say this: we talk a lot about misconceptions and myths and what it’s really like hiring a virtual assistant, things that go wrong when you hire a va, mistakes, etc, but I also just want to say that growing your team and hiring a virtual assistant isn’t really optional if you want to grow a big business. There are exceptions to every rules, but when you get to a certain point in your business, you need help. So let's talk about it!
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| 20 Aug 2024 | 35 | You Need To Be Ruthless About What You Listen To | 00:10:31 | |
Are you ruthless about what you listen to? Are you surrounded by people agreeing with you and complaining that this year sucks, it's slow, the economy, etc? I'm not here to say it's not valid, but today I'll enter with a hot take - more of a pep talk than my usual tangible tips. Let's get into it.
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| 03 Sep 2024 | 37 | 4 Things To Do With That New Fall Energy You're Feeling Right Now | 00:16:27 | |
Is anyone else feeling that new fall energy? It’s that time of year again—Labor Day has passed, and suddenly, everyone seems ready to dive back into their goals and projects. If you’ve been putting off those big dreams or plans for Q4, chances are they’re now front and center in your mind.
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| 10 Sep 2024 | 38 | What Eminem and Taylor Swift Know About Building a Brand in 2024 | 00:12:25 | |
Do you ever have a hard time turning off your business brain? This week’s episode was inspired by a moment that hit me a few weekends ago while driving home from camping. On the way home, we listened to Eminem’s new album—out of sheer curiosity, since I honestly don’t usually listen to that kind of music anymore. But it got me thinking about his lyrics and just how talented he is, honestly, which naturally led me to think of Taylor Swift and, then naturally, business. I couldn’t help but start jotting down ideas, and I’m excited to dive into them with you today!
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| 01 Oct 2024 | 41 | AI Tips for Small Businesses: The Do's and Don'ts Of How I Use AI In My Business | 00:30:38 | |
Today's topic is one I’m genuinely excited about. We’re diving deep into the do's and don'ts of using AI, AI Tips for Small Businesses, specifically tailored to how I personally use it in my workflow. This episode was actually requested by a listener, which is always my favorite kind of content to create! I won’t be covering the basics like "give your AI a role" or "don’t copy and paste responses" – you can find that with a quick Google search. Instead, I’m taking you beyond the basics to explore the more advanced ways I integrate AI into my daily tasks, from uploading documents, SEO, writing blog posts, to podcast content.
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| 17 Sep 2024 | 39 | Do You Have a 5 Minute Booking Process? How to Create One (+ More Tips to SIMPLIFY Your Life With Your CRM) with Colie James | 00:36:52 | |
Five minutes into this episode, I realized just HOW much value Colie was bringing to the conversation. I already knew she was brilliant in systems and client experience, but if you’re not familiar with her yet, get ready. After recording, I made it a goal to implement everything she recommended, and it took me about two and a half hours (though it could’ve been quicker if I hadn’t overthought the details!). You're going to LOVE this episode so let’s get into it!
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| 23 Sep 2024 | 40 | Planning Black Friday Now To Stack Recurring Revenue Into 2025 with Wandi Ruiz | 00:32:20 | |
Are you thinking about launching something for Black Friday, but you're a service provider and unsure what that would look like for you? Maybe you're feeling pressured to create something new? Or you're an introvert like me wondering how you'll find the energy to maintain a launch during the busiest time of year? In this week's episode, I interviewed Wandi Ruiz all about how planning Black Friday now, can help YOU stack recurring revenue for 2025.
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| 08 Oct 2024 | 42 | Struggling with AI? Here’s How to Make AI Sound Like You with Kinsey Soderberg | 00:48:41 | |
Have you been looking to use AI in a more authentic way? Or maybe you're just wondering, how do I get the outputs closer to a final version when I use AI? If you're still doing a ton of editing with what Chat GPT spits out, you are going to love today's guest. I brought on Kinsey of Feel Good Social and Authentic AI to share how to make AI sound like you (and she shares a LOT more to be honest).
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| 15 Oct 2024 | 43 | Black Friday Trends for 2024: Launching, Marketing Tips, and Low-Ticket Offers for Course Creators with Mara Kucirek | 00:40:44 | |
In this episode, I got to sit down with Mara Kucirek, an online course specialist who helps other business owners create, sell, and improve their online courses. She brought a list of Black Friday Trends for 2024, and then we dive deep into Black Friday sales strategies, including why it's important to start planning early to avoid last-minute stress on Thanksgiving. We also talk about the importance of delivering a high-quality product, not just focusing on marketing, and why many online courses fail because they don’t help students implement the material.
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| 22 Oct 2024 | 44 | Why Does Everyone Market To Beginners? Why Basic Content Is Everywhere (2 Reasons!) | 00:19:00 | |
Does it feel like everybody tries to market to beginners? This is something I hear over and over again. Especially with my podcast, I really try to avoid those super beginner basic concepts. However, I do know WHY most people market to beginners, and I'm going to dive into that in this episode so that you can decide for yourself if this should be part of your own marketing strategy.
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| 29 Oct 2024 | 45 | The Scariest Sh*t in the Online Space Right Now (+ How to Not Get Scammed?) with Danielle Ryan | 00:43:03 | |
In this episode, we're diving into the unnerving (and often shocking!) world of online business coaching with Vancouver-based content creator Danielle Ryan. Danielle has spent years building a business and now pulls back the curtain on some of the most problematic trends in the coaching industry. We’re not just talking about typical business horror stories—this episode covers the online business scams that MOST OF US have fallen victim too. Danielle’s passionate and relatable as she shares how to spot red flags in coaching, why pyramid-style coaching is on the rise, and how to make wise investments without falling prey to empty promises.
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| 19 Nov 2024 | 48 | 3 Steps to Start Profit Planning for the New Year with Geily Romero | 00:29:58 | |
As the year begins to wind down, I know we all have one thing on our minds: MONEY. Whether we’re thinking about holiday spending, setting goals for 2025, making the most of the final month of the year, planning for more income in 2025, or identifying expenses for tax write-offs, money is definitely a top focus.
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| 05 Nov 2024 | 46 | I Read 10x Is Easier Than 2x So You Don't Have to (5 Lessons I'm Keeping!) | 00:18:55 | |
I read 10x is Easier Than 2x, so you don't have to. I'm actually going to talk about why I think it's one of the best business books I've read in a long time, but with a few caveats. This is going to be part "what I learned from it and what I'm seeing in my own business", and then also part, book review. My point here is this: I thought I knew what it was going to be about and what it would say, and I was wrong. So anyway, we're going to get into all of that - let's begin!
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| 12 Nov 2024 | 47 | The Ultimate Black Friday Launch Game Plan with Dolly Delong | 00:36:44 | |
Today, we're diving deep into Black Friday launch strategies with the incredible Dolly DeLong. Dolly, a seasoned systems and workflow expert (and the #1 person recommended on threads to talk about this!), shares her approach to launching with intention, offering tips to move from a scattered approach to a structured, strategic game plan.
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| 26 Nov 2024 | 49 | 3 Things I'd Do If I Wanted To Make More Money in December | 00:10:18 | |
I know that this week is absolutely crazy for some people. A lot of people are having Black Friday sales, it's Thanksgiving for my American friends, and everyone is just getting ready for the holiday season if they're not already in holiday mode already. So I just wanted to bring you a super short episode with just a little mindset shift to consider as we close out the year and answer the question: can you make money in December? I feel like at this stage of the year, a lot of us feel like our year is kind of set. We have made most of the money that we're going to make, or at least we know what we can expect in December. It's easy to fall into a trap thinking that nobody buys in December or hey, maybe you don't really want to work in December. That's what we're going to talk about today.
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| 10 Dec 2024 | 51 | The 5 Ps to Profitable Podcast Guesting (+ How to Create a Steady Flow of Highly-Qualified Leads Without Paid Ads) with Dustin Riechmann | 00:34:47 | |
Are you thinking you might like to be a podcast guest someday? Maybe you've been a podcast guest and you're thinking, Hey, I want more of that. Or maybe you're looking for alternative ways to market your business, but you're not set on starting your own show. I would love to tell you how I found Dustin and invited him on this podcast, but it actually comes up in this interview because it is part of his podcast guesting strategy. So for me, it was just super fun to watch his strategy in action and the way it was so natural (and yup, it works!).
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| 17 Dec 2024 | 52 | Is It Time to Hire a Marketing Agency? 3 Questions to Ask Before You Splurge on a Marketing Agency | 00:15:57 | |
Hi! Your favorite content marketing agency here, coming at you with an episode that I swear is not a sales pitch for our services (although, hello, what are you waiting for? hire us for blogging and Pinterest). Instead, I'm sharing 3 KEY questions that I think you should be asking before you hire anyone to market your business for you (regardless of if you're looking for a virtual assistant to support you, a blogging/pinterest agency, or even a social media manager).
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| 24 Dec 2024 | 53 | Mental Breaks in Marketing: Taking Time to Reflect, Recharge, and Reimagine | 00:09:07 | |
In this episode, I'm talking about why we need to start taking intentional breaks when it comes to marketing and content creation. I'm also sharing my recent experience with batching podcast episodes, lessons learned from observing other creators, and why giving yourself "white space" can lead to fresh ideas and renewed creativity. Whether you're managing a podcast, blog, or business, my hope is that this episode inspires you to prioritize rest while staying consistent.
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| 03 Dec 2024 | 50 | 2 of the Biggest 2025 Website Trends (+ UX Tips You'll Want To Implement ASAP) with Hannah Davis | 00:30:25 | |
Who doesn’t love a good trends episode? Today, I’m excited to bring on Hannah Davis to talk all about 2025 website trends and how we can update our websites without making them look overly trendy. I also loved how she tied in website UX (user experience) into everything she does! We chatted all about the balance between copy and design, how to use templates effectively, and common website mistakes to avoid.
PS: We talked a lot about the importance of good COPY in this conversation. So this is me reminding you that I offer VIP days if you want a professional to write yours for you: https://thekarareport.com/copywriting Links Mentioned:
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| 31 Dec 2024 | 54 | Are You a Bad Communicator? 5 Ways to Get Faster Responses From Your Clients or Team in the New Year | 00:14:53 | |
In this episode, I’m sharing practical tips that have made a huge difference in my business and could do the same for you. If you’ve ever dealt with missed deadlines, unclear requests, or slow responses, these simple tweaks will make your communication clearer, faster, and more effective. If you want to get faster responses (and BETTER responses) from your clients and team, these will help!
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| 07 Jan 2025 | 55 | An End of Year Recap, My 2025 Goals, and 2 Unconventional New Years Resolutions I Think Every Business Owner Should Have | 00:36:34 | |
Is anyone else still in disbelief that it’s 2025? This episode is for all my nosy listeners who love a peek behind the scenes—hearing about other people's goals, reflections on the past year, and plans for the new one. If that’s your kind of tea, you’re in the right place! Last week, I posted a story on Instagram about how I create quarterly Looms for my team, and it got a lot of interest. So today, I’ll dive into that process, share my reflections on last year, and talk about what’s on my mind for 2025—which, by the way, still feels surreal to say! I’m also sharing two unconventional New Year’s resolutions that I believe should be on every business owner’s list. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get into it!
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| 14 Jan 2025 | 56 | What It Really Looks Like to Get Better at Marketing: Getting Off the Instagram Grind, Investing in Brand Photos & Using Enji with Danison Fronda-Tietz | 00:45:05 | |
What does it really look like to get good at marketing? Especially at the beginning of the year, many of us set lofty goals: add a new channel to our marketing, spend less time marketing, finally be consistent, or create better content. But what does that actually look like? How can we actually get better at marketing? One of the things I wanted to bring to you early this year is an interview with a real business owner about how they finally got their marketing act together. If you’re on the Instagram hustle train or just wondering where to start, you’re going to love this interview with Danison.
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| 21 Jan 2025 | 57 | Predictable Income or Creative Freedom? How to Choose Between Retainer Model vs. Project-Based Work | 00:19:00 | |
If you're a freelancer or a creative business owner, chances are you've thought about whether to focus on project-based work, aim for more retainer clients, or try a mix of both. Maybe you're currently doing one and wondering if the grass is greener on the other side? That's exactly what I want to dive into today. I've worked in both a retainer model vs. project-based clients, and I have plenty of thoughts to share—lessons I've learned, pros and cons, and what’s currently working for me. Let’s get into it!
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| 28 Jan 2025 | 58 | 4 Easy Steps to Scale Your Business Without Ads (Marketing Edition) | 00:19:40 | |
As an online business owner, you likely know the importance of scaling your business. But what if you don’t have the budget for ads? Or even if you DO have a budget for ads, you might be wondering if there is any way to scale your business without ads (or at the very least - diversify your efforts). First, let me cut to the chase: the answer is a resounding yes!
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| 04 Feb 2025 | 59 | 9 Ways to Find Fresh Content Ideas (When You've Said EVERYTHING There Is To Say) | 00:25:58 | |
Do you ever feel like you've said everything there is to say in your business—like you're just repeating yourself over and over? While repetition is key in marketing, it can still start to feel a little stale. If that sounds familiar, this episode on how to find content ideas is for you. Today, I'm sharing nine ways I generate fresh content ideas—even as someone who writes a ton of content. These strategies work not only for social media but also for blog posts, podcasts, and YouTube channels. As a service provider with years of experience working with clients, I still have to find new ways to say the same thing in fresh, engaging ways. So, get ready—I’m spilling all the tea on how I do it. Let’s dive in! 🎙️ In This Episode:
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| 11 Feb 2025 | 60 | 7 Mistakes You’re Making with Your Virtual Assistant (Why They Keep Quitting Or Failing To Meet Your Expectations) | 00:25:00 | |
Do you keep hiring virtual assistants, only for them to quit after a few months? Or maybe you’ve brought on a VA, hoping they’d magically take tasks off your plate, only to find yourself more overwhelmed than before. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Today, I’m diving into the biggest mistakes business owners make when hiring and managing VAs—and what you can do to create a work environment where they actually want to stay. Whether you’re struggling with high turnover, unclear expectations, or just feeling like your VA isn’t the stress reliever you expected, we’re going to break it all down. So, if you’re ready to build a team that truly supports you (without the constant hiring cycle), let’s get into it! 🎙️ In This Episode:
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| 18 Feb 2025 | 61 | My Biggest Business Lessons: What I Got Right (and Wrong) in My First 8 Years in Business | 00:38:22 | |
Eight years in business—what a ride! I can’t believe it’s been that long, and honestly, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on everything I’ve learned. There are things I’m so glad I did early on… and then there are the things I’d 1000% do differently if I could go back. In this episode, I’m getting real about the biggest lessons from my business journey—what worked, what totally flopped, and what I wish I’d known sooner. From the systems I should have set up earlier to the investments I’ll never make again, I’m sharing it all. If you’re in the thick of growing your business (or just love a good behind-the-scenes chat), I hope this episode resonates with you! 🎙️ In This Episode:
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| 25 Feb 2025 | 62 | Pinterest Marketing in 2025: What's Working Now? | 00:51:40 | |
Are you still using Pinterest like it’s 2019—and wondering why your results aren’t what they used to be? Or maybe you’ve heard that Pinterest is a great tool for traffic and sales, but every time you try, it feels like you’re just throwing pins into the void. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Today, I’m breaking down exactly what’s working on Pinterest in 2025—and what’s absolutely not worth your time anymore. From outdated strategies that could actually be hurting your reach to the real truth about pinning frequency, keywords, and graphics, we’re diving deep into the latest Pinterest trends. So, if you’re ready to turn Pinterest into a powerful, profitable part of your marketing strategy (without second-guessing every pin), let’s get into it! 🎙️ In This Episode:
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| 04 Mar 2025 | 63 | An Advanced Conversation About Lead Generation (+ Why Your Freebies Aren't Working) with Samantha Burmeister | 00:32:11 | |
There are so many buzzwords in the online space, and "lead generation" is definitely one of them. Everyone says you need to grow your email list, create lead magnets, and optimize your landing pages—but how do you actually make it work? If you’ve ever launched a freebie, only to wonder “Where are the leads?”, this episode is for you! We’ll go beyond the basic advice and talk about what truly makes a lead magnet successful—from landing page copy to strategic call-to-actions. PS: You can grab Sam's Clickable AF CTAs for ONLY $1 using the code KARAREPORT: https://nomadcopyagency.thrivecart.com/clickable-af-ctas/
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| 11 Mar 2025 | 64 | How To Be The Last Tab Someone Has Open: Brand Voice Guides, Client Experience Copy, and Messaging That Sticks with Andrea Shah | 00:36:19 | |
There are so many ways to market your business, but one of the most underrated tools? Client experience copy and building a brand voice guide. Everyone talks about sales emails and conversion-driven copy, but what about the emails and messaging after someone inquires? From your inquiry forms to your follow-ups, proposals, and even your contract emails—every touchpoint is an opportunity to reinforce your brand voice and create a seamless client experience. If you’ve ever struggled with writing client emails that feel personal and efficient, this episode is for you! We’re diving into how to craft copy that sounds like you, helps you stand out, and makes the entire client journey smoother.
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