Content with Character
Emily Aborn
Feeling overwhelmed by all the content and marketing advice out there? Want to run and hide (or melt) the second you think about what you "should" be doing on social media? Content with Character will guide you to take action, think outside the box, and experiment with some unconventional marketing approaches. This podcast brings a human-centric perspective on visibility and content creation through writing, podcasting, speaking, networking, collaborating, and beyond!Time to redefine "marketing" with Small Business Copywriter and Content Marketing Consultant, Emily Aborn. She'll keep you laughing and learning as you create and grow with more inspiration and ease.
3 Ways to Help a Small Business Grow: Spreading the love in 3 minutes or less
Text Emily! Small businesses are the backbone of many local communities. Now more than ever, small businesses need our support and to lift one another up. This episode is a reminder of three simple ways to spread the love, pay it forward, and help out the other small business owners walking alongside us. The best part? You don't need to spend a dime, take a ton of time, or break a sweat. It's easy as 1, 2, 3: Share, Engage, Shoutout.In this episode:3 Easy yet powerful actions that will lift up o
How Your Messaging Helps Set Boundaries & Achieve Your Goals
Text Emily! We’ve talked about boundaries before and setting them in your business but… Which pieces of your messaging actually can help SUPPORT you in setting these boundaries and how do you express them for the world to see in a way that’s kind and honest?In this episode, we’re going to talk about how our messaging on our websites, business cards, social media, and MORE can help us achieve our goals and set strong boundaries. In the episode: How setting boundaries supports your goalsWhere to c
Know, Like, Trust: Action Steps to Build KLT
Text Emily! You’ve probably heard about building "the know, like, and trust factor" with your community, customers, and clients. Butttt, how on EARTH does one actually build know, like, and trust? What even does that MEAN!? Often mentioned in the marketing world, "know, like, and trust" (KLT) is vague and elusive (at best) and not many are explaining how to take actions that build it. In this episode, I’m going to break each element of KLT down into tangible action steps to get you on your way t
Don't Make Them Cry to Get Them to Buy!
Text Emily! Pain point marketing is marketing that highlights a problem your audience is experiencing and positions your product or service as the solution.It's easy, creates an urgency, lack, need, and reminds them of just how badly they hurt! Pain point marketing works and often grabs attention or raises alarm, but at what end? In this episode, I share my own thoughts on pain point marketing and why I don't rely on making them cry to get them to buy. Inside this episode on pain point marketing
What's In it For ME? Focusing on Benefits vs. Features
Text Emily! On Christmas Day, I wrote a poem. Not to be confused with a Christmas poem, it was a poem about a zipper. An underrated, underestimated piece of fashion, function, and form, and all it has to offer the world. A series of events around the poem is where I got the idea for THIS episode on Features vs. Benefits and why focusing on the benefits is important! In the episode: What's the difference between a feature and a benefit? Product features vs. service-based business featuresProduct
Making Stories Work in Your Content
Text Emily! A client asked me recently a GREAT question about using stories in her content specifically when she might not want to share ALL the details. I turned her story into one that can benefit YOU as we discuss how to tell your stories more effectively and intentionally. I hope you walk away inspired to bring more stories into your content and less stuck in overthinking when you do! Why stories in your content Types of stories you can tell in your business and marketingTelling a concise Or
Just Say "No" to Bro Marketing
Text Emily! Aggressive, manipulative, disingenuous marketing that prioritizes quick wins and profit over authentic connection and value is OUT. Cozy, human-centered, ethical, kind marketing is IN! In this episode, we break down the concept of "bro-marketing" as I help you steer clear of the obvious (and not so obvious) versions I see business owners tempted to try. Scarcity tactics, pain points, one-size-fits-all solutions and formulas, clickbait, disguises, inflation, and endless pestering... w
Microdosing Your Marketing: 5 Micro-Actions to Boost Your Business
Text Emily! Especially when facing down the starting line of a New Year or similarly blank slates... it can feel overwhelming, daunting, even debilitating. You might have big ideas, goals, dreams, it might feel like you need to get back to doing everything and everything needs to be done NOW - right outta' the gate. The key for me to both recover, get things done I want to, AND stave off the ever-looming overwhelm is to microdosing. I'm not talking about magic mushrooms or something, I'm talking
4 Top Takeaways from 53 Podcast Guest Interviews
Text Emily! This past year, one of my main focuses was on podcast guesting. And focus I did. After 53 interviews and podcast guesting experiences, I lived to tell about it and I'm sharing some behind-the-scenes, do's, don'ts, and realities of visibility through podcast guesting. This episode will help you if you're looking for more podcast guesting opportunities, want to be a better host, or are a business owner who wants to become a better collaborator in any capacity. Inside the episode: Why p
Do You Hear What I Hear? The 5 levels of listening
Text Emily! You probably don't need me to tell you that listening is key for relationships, business, and growth. Did you know it's ALSO important in your content and marketing?! Listening can help: 1. Build connection and relationships 2. Understand challenges, struggles, and needs 3. Assume less and make insight and information-based decisions In this episode, we'll get into the implications of not listening and the benefits of moving up the 5 levels of listening. I'll give you action steps a
4 Lessons Learned in 2024 to Inform Your Future Marketing
Text Emily! In this episode, I'll get into my top lessons learned in the content marketing world this past year and translate them into TIPS to inform your future marketing as we embark onward into a New Year. We talk about: Why reciprocity is KEY in business, marketing, and collaborationsThe real truth about all those shiny ideas we come up withTop TIPS for amplifying your voice and content in the NY Asking for what you want in life and business And more! Resources & Links Mentioned: PodMatch -
Let's Talk Boundaries! Setting boundaries for life and business
Text Emily! I know, I know... setting boundaries is hard. You have a soft spot in your heart, you just want to make people happy, make someone's day, deliver everything to everyone, do all the things. AND you can't pour from a cup that's drained. Boundaries help to preserve your capacity and keep you from overcommitting to too much or misaligned endeavors. In this episode, I give you practical steps to define the boundaries YOU need for life and business and how to stick to what y
Weathering the Social Media Storm: Navigating what to share when life happens
Text Emily! Leave a VoicemailSometimes, there aren't words. And sometimes, it's OK not to have any. It's ok to do what you need: take your time, step away, unfollow, unsubscribe, unfriend, pause, and NOT share everything you're thinking and feeling. Today, I want to get into an issue I've faced in my own business as I navigate marketing myself on social media when life gets lifey. I don't have the answers, but I can help you find your own answers to: What and when
Your Marketing Blueprint Made Easy(er)
Text Emily! Leave a VoicemailDo you feel like you just need a solid content marketing plan and you'll be good to go? Do you struggle to plan and now where to start? "It'll all be great, you just need a plan," they say... But how on earth are you actually supposed to make a content and marketing plan that you can execute and follow through on? Where do you start? What should you include? How specific and granular do you get? In this episode, I'm going to give you some ideas for planning content a
Reels vs. Stories, pivoting with confidence, platform overwhelm, and more!
Text Emily! Leave a VoicemailThis week, we're diving into questions I get asked often as a marketing consultant and copywriter, as well as questions submitted by listeners like you! In this episode, I answer: How to confidently decide on and share a pivot in your business? Questions to help you choose when to keep and when to let go of: services and products, clients, prices, collaborations, events, marketing platforms, and more! How do you ACTUALLY build know, like, and trust? Is LinkedIn
What a Tattoo Taught Me About Business
Text Emily! Leave a VoicemailSpoiler alert: I recently got my first tattoo!Not only am I very happy with my new ink, the experience also gave me a ton of insight into the overwhelm many of our clients and customers experience when trying to determine who to choose and work with! Today, I bring you a personal story that taught me valuable lessons about business, standing out, sharing your values, decision-making, and more! Our clients feel overwhelmed by choices How to consider their decision-mak
6 Ideas to Make Marketing Less Dreadful
Text Emily! Many entrepreneurs and small business owners I talk to DREAD creating content. I hear all the reasons: You get stuck thinking of ideas You overthinking everythingYou feel overwhelmed by itYou think you need to plan everything perfectlyYou think everything needs to be perfect, impactful, helpful, valuable, business-relatedYou don't enjoy writing, recording podcasts, sending emails, posting to social media, [fill in the blank here with whatever YOU loathe] And more! In November (Nation
4 Creative Ways to "Network" (fresh ideas for connecting with others)
Text Emily! Love it, loathe it, feel meh about it… networking is STILL a huge key to growing a successful business.We can't just set it and forget it when it comes to our marketing and content, we also need to be fostering community and cultivating relationships. Ahem, meeting people. If that sounds unfun to you, I'm hoping THIS episode makes it a little funner. With four fresh ideas for building your network, no matter where you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Ready to get i
Wait, is that True!? The 4 Gates of Speech for Your Content Marketing
Text Emily! The Four Gates of Speech is a framework/philosophy for communication attributed to Rumi. A concept coming from the Sufi mystic tradition, it's a filtering system for your words to ensure: wise, intentional, and kind communication. In this episode, I apply this concept to content creation and what you're sharing in your marketing. Communication is KEY in this episode, as we dive into: The Four Gates of Speech: True, Necessary, Kind, the Right TimingWhy ensuring what you&apos
The Four Tendencies for Your Marketing
Text Emily! Leave a Voice Mail for the Show! We all face two both outer and inner expectations in life. Outer expectations are things like replying to that text your friend sent you, a client deadline, bringing the dish you promised your sister you would for Thanksgiving dinner...Inner expectations are your rules, promises, or notes to self: ie. resolutions, goals, habits, etc.How you approach and manage these expectations impacts your productivity, consistency, follow-through, and achieving you
Are you a Pioneer, Producer, Professor, or Planner? Expanding your genius zone
Text Emily! Most businesses are generating at least SOME form of content. Which, drumroll please... means that most business owners are also Content Creators. In this episode, I share four varieties of content creators, the four genius zones of business owners. My goal is to help you see and celebrate your main strengths and then expand your comfort zone ever so slightly as you add in new skills (and players) to grow even more. What you'll learn: 4 types of content creators: Pioneer, Producer, P
4 Buyer Mindsets to Consider in Your Business
Text Emily! "Nothing works for everyone, and nothing works all the time. This is why traditional marketing does not work for most people because they assume the rules are the same." - Scott Oldford I've shared before about various stages your clients and community might be in terms of awareness of what you offer (Symptom, Problem, Solution Aware). In this episode, we're going a level deeper and looking at why it doesn't work to use a one-size-fits-all for your unique people AND across your marke
The Perfect Blend: Art & Science in Your Business and Website
Text Emily! I often say, "Great copy is a blend of art and science!" Today, I want to show how this concept applies to our business as a whole, and how we often weave art and science together for a successful business and website. A little creativity and artistic sprinkle over here, a beaker, and some chemical explosions over there, and voila - you’ve got yourself an entrepreneur. In this episode, we cover specifics on the art and science of websites and show you how it applies throughout your b
What to Do When You've Been "Phoning it in"
Text Emily! The phrases "mailing it in" or "phoning it in" have been used interchangeably and were first used to describe someone who didn’t show up to work and instead mailed or phoned it in from afar. Nowadays a lot of us work virtually or remotely and may not have the need to be physically present, but where it gets sticky is when we get detached, lack care, find ourselves going through the motions, and doing the bare minimum. Checking boxes without enthusiasm or excitemen
Adventures in Podcast Hosting (your frequently asked questions, answered!)
Text Emily! Looking to start a podcast or be an even better podcast host? This episode is a montage of lessons learned after six years of hosting experience. You'll gain insights on content creation, podcast marketing, finding guests, advocating for your listeners, frequency and consistency, and more! Inside the episode: Should you start a podcast? Is the podcast market too saturated to fit yours? A few reasons to start your podcast How much time does it take to host a podcast and what kind
Standing Out as a Podcast Guest
Text Emily! Over the past decade, I've had many opportunities to be a podcast guest and connect with hundreds of hosts across the globe. This year, I've been having a great time exploring and experimenting on PodMatch and elsewhere as I focus even MORE on offering value as a podcast guest. In this episode, I share a few pitching tips, guesting tips, do's, maybe don'ts, and lessons learned from the other side of the microphone. If you want to be a memorable podcast guest and i
Collaborating with Confidence (5 ideas to help you start taking action)
Text Emily! Collaboration is one of the best and most rewarding ways to build and grow your business. It’s an out-of-the-box, not as-often-as-it-should-be talked about element of marketing which I want to give more attention and airtime! In this episode, I share five reminders for confident collaborations and some actions to take right away! I get into: The power of collaboration in your businessThe dark side of collaboration Ideas on what a collaboration can consist of5 Reminders for confident
Firstborn Problems: How to Ask for Help (and what to consider before you do!)
Text Emily! Do you cringe when you have to ask for help as a business owner? Perhaps it's a concern over putting someone else out, a fear that they won't be able to do it as well as you can, a belief you need to be doing it all yourself, or something else that stands in your way of asking for the help you need. Most of us can only get so far before we need wave our white flag of surrender and get help and support in our businesses for: Administrative tasks Marketing and promotional gui
Step Aside, Perfectionism! We've got action to take
Text Emily! Maybe you've convinced yourself that perfectionism is a good trait. I can definitely see that side of the coin too, trust me... It means you have high standards, attention to detail, care about quality, have a strong appreciation doing things "right". It might reflect your goal-oriented, task-focused, reliable, forward-thinking, innovative side as you constantly look to make things BETTER. And perfectionism can have some unwanted side effects: Procrastination, stopping you in the fir
3 Essentials for a Bio that Sets You Apart
Text Emily! Does writing your bio feel overwhelming to you? Not sure where to start? You're not alone. The bio is a topic I get asked about A LOT with my clients and as one of the "refresh" services I offer. I hear things like: "Oh, my gosh mine is so bad..." "I need to work on my bio..." "My bio is so outdated and irrelevant at this point..." In this episode, we're putting aside the STRESS of writing a bio and making it EASY with 3 essentials to
Unhack Your Marketing & Content Creation
Text Emily! Leave A Voicemail!Let's Un-hack that! Bio hacks, life hacks, business hacks... Everyone's always talking about the latest shortcuts and secret sauces! I find many of them to be a little rigid and confining, rather than freeing. A little black-and-white with no room for adaptability and tailoring. Life is less fun when you're walking around trying to "hack" everything in sight. So, I thought today we'd have some fun UNHACKING our content creation and marketing with some things I've im
How to Know if it's Time to Let it Go
Text Emily! What do you do when you run out of steam? When you’ve tried and tried and tried to make something work, you’ve given it consistency, a considerable amount of time, energy, and effort, and it’s just NOT sticking!? What do you do when you’re just ready to move on, end an era, and let something GO? In this episode, we’re going to discuss exactly that! We often get excited and discuss new ideas, starting things, what’s next, what’s next, but we don’t always talk about the things we leave
3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started a Business
Text Emily! There are ZILLIONS of lessons I've learned as a business owner over the past decade and countless nuggets of advice I want to pour into those coming behind me and walking alongside me. But advice is a lot like opinions... Everyone has some AND they're not always relevant and applicable for you. While sparing you my advice, I'm sharing three things I wish I knew before I started as we spark up a conversation and reflect on some of the lessons learned along the way. In t
The Ever-Relevant Origin Story: Telling the Story of "I"
Text Emily! Leave Me a Voicemail What's the story behind your "I"? Where you came from, how it all began, and why you do what you're doing today? You may not have some reality-bending origin story. Even if you didn't find your life's purpose while narrowly dodging your demise, your origin story is no less exciting and no less relevant! In this episode, we get into how to write and tell your beautiful, multifaceted origin story and apply it to just about anything you
Can Content Creation be Enjoyable (and even… FUN)?!
Text Emily! Leave a Voicemail!Do you find the process of marketing and creating content to be exhausting and frustrating? You're not alone! In this episode, we answer a listener question as we talk about approaching our marketing and content creation in a way that inspires a little more FUN and enjoyment! I personally am the weirdo that LIKES creating content. I see marketing as an adventure and love connecting and sharing with others. I'm actually having a great ol' time over here doing so! BU
Making the Most of a Summer Slowdown
Text Emily! Leave a Voicemail! Summer tends to be a high-energy, out-in-the-world, on-the-go season. We often feel spread thin, running in a million different directions, and racing to and fro. [Insert overly busy cliche of choice here] Summer slowdowns can occur in our businesses due to the natural seasonality of our work or be self-imposed. The goal of this episode is to help you better focus the time you do spend working this Summer going deeper vs. wider and leaning in when most others are l
The Pants Story: How to stop people-pleasing in your marketing
Text Emily! Send Me a Voicemail!Today's episode starts with a short story about a pair of (expensive) pants I didn't even really want in the first place... People-pleasing has no place in our lives and it can get in the way of sharing authentically and honestly in our businesses too! Like ice cream, people-pleasing comes in different flavors and varieties. The various types of people-pleasing may manifest similarly but with different reasons and motivations behind why you're doing it in the firs
Setting Time Boundaries for Your Business and Life
Text Emily! Leave a Voicemail for Emily Not your average time management and productivity podcast! It's about time we talk about time here on Content with Character. I'm sharing about a recent time experiment I conducted and how it helped me in setting time boundaries that work for my business and my life! You'll walk away with consideration and helpful tips in setting time boundaries that work for YOU - no matter what you’re here to accomplish and enjoy in this lifetime. In this
How to Un-Despair When You Start to Compare: Turning down the noise of comparison
Text Emily! Leave a Voicemail! Comparing ourselves to others can be exhausting and discouraging. People may give you advice to just unfollow, unsubscribe, stop the thoughts in their tracks, think "positive", or focus on all the things that make YOU great...But it's not always that easy to turn the beat around! And sometimes glossing over the experience can cause it to keep popping up again and again and again, rather than teach us to work through it and move to a more productive place. In this e
Hug Your Customers: Making Your Client the Main Character
Text Emily! Send Me a Voicemail! Today, we’re going to talk about the importance and power of customer service and how to make the customer the main character. What does it look like to make THEM the main event in your copy, marketing, and throughout your business? I'll offer you some tangibles for content creation and the customer journey and how to hug your customers with exceptional customer service each and every step of the way! In the episode: Why does customer service matter? What's the
What is Character? And does it really require "hard work" to build it?
Text Emily! Leave me a Voice MailIn this episode, we get into what CHARACTER means. Why is it the name of this show? What is it even? And do you just naturally have it or do you have to build it? Does it really take "hard work" to get? How do you infuse YOUR content with YOUR character!? This is episode 1 of 2 where I take a look at the role character plays in your business, content, and otherwise. Next week, we're diving into making your client or customer the main character, and
Repurposing Video Content, Audio, Webinars, Workshops, and more!
Text Emily! Repurposing is for you as a content creator. It saves you time and helps you stop spinning your wheels as you take any one single piece of content and turn it into MORE! AND in addition to being hugely beneficial to you (and your sanity), it also helps increase your impact and reach others who may not be able to access your original format of content. Especially when it comes to audio, webinars, workshops, courses, and video content, repurposing can make it more accessible for others
Repetition vs. Cohesion: Why I want you repeating yourself MORE!
Text Emily! "Oh, I already posted that." "Ya, ya, ya, I already said that!" "People already know who I am and what I do…" "People know what I offer and how I work, I already said it." "I just said it in last week’s email." "I can't offer that AGAIN, I don’t want to be annoying!" "How many times do I have to repeat myself!?"If you’ve ever said, or even thought any of those sentences (and yes, my hand is raised too), this e
Repurposing Written Content: The life-changing magic of repurposing emails, blogs, and social content
Text Emily! Your content can be doing more for you, without you needing to generate and produce more! It can be reaching more people in more ways, all with ease and simplicity. Repurposing can help you save time, energy, head-spinning AND it can uplevel your content with a level of cohesion and congruency. Things are busy and moving fast. You probably have a lot on your plate. In this episode, it’s my goal to help you enjoy more of your time away from your desk so you can connect more deeply wit
Being Human is Your Secret Sauce! Considerations when using AI in content creation
Text Emily! It's time. It's time for me not to ignore this important topic. We need to have the talk... The talk about what it really means to be human and why it's now more important than ever! In this episode, I share my thoughts (and feelings) on humans vs. robots and why I don't recommend letting their intelligence replace or simulate yours. I share cautions and considerations when using AI tools plus some ways to use them ethically in your marketing and content creation.
Curiosity Marketing: Creating a curiosity gap that sparks interest
The curiosity gap is defined as the space between what someone wants or needs to know and what they know now. When we introduce elements of curiosity marketing in our content, this gap can create a sense of intrigue, interest, and a desire to lean in and know more. This episode will help you understand the unique power of curiosity in your marketing, and give you actionable ways to spark more of it throughout your content! Episode Highlights: What is curiosity marketing and why it matters The f
Don't Make Me Choose! How to decide what to share and where to show up
Text Emily! When asked to choose her FAVORITE or to narrow down options, my dear friend Lisa Zawrotny, host of the Positively Living Podcast often humorously responds, “Don’t make me choooooose!!” Lisa, like many of us doesn't like being limited in her decisions, put in a box, or forced to do just any one thing. At the same time, Lisa's great at prioritizing and focusing on what matters most, the important stuff, once she has the clarity. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about h
Four Stories to Share in Your Content: Authentic stories to tell about your business
Text Emily! Are you one of those people who can turn a simple question of how you slept last night into a full-blown story? Or perhaps you wish you possessed the storytelling skill, but you could use a little nudge and some inspiration. You need a little help seeking out stories to share in your business. No matter which camp you fall into, or if you’re hanging out somewhere in between, this episode is for you! We’re going to keep the storytelling vibes going from last week's episode as we
Sharing Client Success Stories: Case studies, portfolios, testimonials, and beyond!
Text Emily! In this episode, we’re going to get into a type of story you could and I’d venture to say probably should be sharing more of in your business… Dive in with me as I discuss the ins and outs of telling your client and customer success stories through case studies, testimonials, portfolio pages, and more! In this episode, we'll use the Situation Need Action Result structure from the "Plan Your Content with Ease" episode and apply it to creating long-form content. Sharing
No One Likes a Copycat!
It's happened to me, to friends, to collaborators, and to my clients... And while "imitation" is supposedly the "sincerest form of flattery" (Oscar Wilde), NO ONE LIKES A COPYCAT! In this episode, we get into a recent (minor) horror story of my own, talk about why it's so important not to copy and paste, a few ideas on how to avoid being a copycat, and how to decrease the chances of being copied. We get into: What it feels like to be copiedSix reasons not to copycatFour ideas to help you slow do
Plan Your Content with Ease: Four Content Structures to Give a Whirl!
Text Emily! Did you know that every Content with Character episode has a similar structure? I move through each episode as follows: Intro music, a little sample at the beginning, a setup and preview of the concept we'll be getting into, the actual content itself, a brief summary, a preview of next week's episode, and the outro. Easy peasy for me when I'm building out the outline of my episodes, and smooooooth listening for YOU! In this episode, I share: Why you might want to impl
Your Business Called! It told me to pass along this message
Text Emily! This week's episode might be slightly different from what you're used to here on the Content with Character podcast. I'm kicking off the month of March 2024 with an inspiration-based/storytelling episode. There are also ((of course)) a hefty amount of tangibles, actionables, and practicals so you can apply it for yourself! Today's episode is about finding the sweet spot of immersion in your business and time away, so you can come back with increased focus, product
Client-Contractor Collaboration: The Ultimate Survival Guide
Working with clients and customers is the ultimate collaboration. And for many of us, the one we encounter most frequently in running our businesses. If you’ve ever had a bad client experience or a bad subcontractor experience, this episode is for you! We’re going to talk about both sides of the coin as contractors and clients so we can be a little better at helping each other help each other! We'll get into how to be a better client and contractor as we explore: Boundaries - respecting an
Pain, Problem, Solution: What are they feeling?
Text Emily! What is it? How do I fix it? Can YOU help me fix it? Those are three very different questions that people ask at different places in their journey. And by people, I mean YOUR people. Depending on what their level of awareness is, your clients are asking these three different questions and you can’t just answer them all or speak to them all at once. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the difference between pain, problem, and solution awareness and how it can help you consid
Get Picky About Your Collaborations in Business
Text Emily! Remember group projects? Group projects in school could go really really well, or really really bad. It all depended on who was in your GROUP and how they meshed together. Did you cooperate, communicate, and each pick up some of the workload? Or did everything fall on you or someone else in the group while everyone else sat back and waited for that sweet sweet A+ to fall into their lap without having to lift a finger? Collaborations are the group projects of the business world! And I
The Four Agreements of Collaboration
You make agreements with yourself and others all the time... "But the most important agreements are the ones you make with yourself. In these agreements, you tell yourself who you are, what you feel, what you believe, and how to behave throughout your life." (paraphrase of a quote from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz)In this episode, buckle up because I’m going to apply the four agreements to how we show up as marketers, content creators, collaborators, and business owners. The Four Agree
Business Climate Control: Setting the Temp, Tempo, and Duration
Are you in charge of your business' thermostat? Or is someone else that isn't even IN IT in charge of adjusting it from an app far far away? We choose the temperature, pick the tempo, and choose our duration. You don’t have to sprint just because someone next to you is running a sprint. You don’t have to choose a marathon, you can walk, you can run - you can even push a baby carriage and walk your dog! In this episode, we'll take it from analogy to reality and give you some tangi
Six Styles of Procrastination: How to Navigate Your Procrastination M.O.
Text Emily! One of the ways to learn to drag your feet LESS is to become aware of what your procrastination style is in the first place. In this episode, we’re going to explore the different types of procrastination so we can start to break unhelpful patterns when it comes to procrastinating in our business. We talk about the root of procrastination, how it can impact our lives and business, and some practical ways to start overcoming it when we spot the pattern popping back up. I share traits,
The Cost of Procrastination
Procrastination is our creative response to not wanting to do something, being too busy to get to something, dreading something, and even needing everything to be perfect before doing it or while doing it. Contrary to common belief, it's not "lazy" and in fact, procrastination takes a hefty amount of emotional, mental, and sometimes physical energy.In this episode, which is Part I of II episodes on overcoming procrastination, we'll talk about the costs of procrastination as well as some ways to
What's Your Marketing Love Language?
When I was a little girl, my parents had a bookshelf full of personality, parenting, and relationship books. I was a little bit of an odd child and I liked digging into these people-focused books and figuring out who I was as well and how I could love others in my life better. I loved learning about what made people tick individually, and how we all fit together as a big picture. One of the books that caught my fancy was The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. In this episode, I’m going to shar
Discover Your Content Creator Archetype
An archetype is defined as, "A very typical example of a certain person or thing". A quintessential or textbook example if you will. And while we’re truly one in eight billion and no one can put us in any one box… Discovering your content creator archetype can help you know your patterns and strengths, as well as avoid pitfalls and speedbumps that get in the way of you connecting with your ideal clients and sharing your message. In this Content with Character episode, we’ll cover nine content cr
Are You Holding Yourself Back?
Text Emily! In this episode, we get into three things that hold many business owners back from content creation, visibility, and marketing themselves. We talk about perfectionism, time management/organization, and a lack of inspiration or ideas as they relate to your marketing AND how to overcome these things to move forward. Make this the year you STOP holding yourself back in content creation! In this episode: How perfectionism can hold you back in content creation and marketing How time manag
2024 Content Predictions: Planning for Your BEST Marketing in the New Year!
Text Emily! Ever wish you could have a crystal ball for your life or business? I know I certainly do! I LOVE knowing what's going to happen next! When I know what's coming down the pike, I can plan, prepare, get excited, and in some cases... brace myself for it! I understand we can't know 100%. Life is full of the unexpected and surprises. But we can still guess, predict, hope, and then plan to do our very best no matter what comes our way. Today we’re going to have some fun with
Stop Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall! What's Really Sticking?
Text Emily! Sometimes… it just feels like you’re throwing a bunch of spaghetti at the wall. Again and again and again. And sometimes, you’re throwing fettuccine, elbow macaroni, and lasagna noodle at the wall when the spaghetti is already sticking just fine! Back away from the pasta, this episode will help you determine what’s sticking really when it comes to your business and visibility and how to let go of the tortellini weighing you down. In this episode, we review your current efforts and vi
What Season of Business Are You In?
Text Emily! Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall… all you have to do is call and I’ll be there. James Taylor forgot one little part of his song - WE’LL all be there at one point or another. Physically, mentally, probably emotionally… and in our businesses. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the four seasons of business, and help you determine which one you’re in plus what actions to take no matter what the temperature is right now! In this episode on the seasons of business: Business cycles
Setting Realistic Expectations: Keys to Achieving Your Big Dreams in Business and Marketing
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've set myself up for disappointment by painting unrealistic expectations for my marketing and business. I've gotten all hyped up and excited thinking: THIS is the moment. It's all about to blow up, go gangbusters, etc. And it pretty much never ends up like that or works that way. Instead, it takes lots of consistent hard work, daily time, effort, attention, and making sure I’m laser-focused on which direction I want to be going in and what I want
Avoiding Distractions in Your Content (ideas to keep them engaged)
If you do a Google search on how distractable we are, you'll get page after page of just how hard it is for us to pay attention nowadays. A well-known fact about human beings is that if what they're focusing on isn't interesting, or if they allow themselves to get distracted, or if we distract them... they tend to check out and we might have officially lost their attention for good. We don't want people getting distracted when consuming OUR content, do we!? No! We want their focus and preferably
Give Me a Break! What to Consider Before You Start Planning for 2024
Personally, I'm craving some sort of in-between zone right now. A space where it’s not 2023 anymore but it’s also not 2024 yet. Neither here, nor there. In this episode, I share with you about the magical gift I want us to consider giving ourselves in these final weeks of this year and that is… a pause between reflecting and planning. Somewhere in between the taking stock and the planning, there needs to be a little bit of a nothing. Somewhere for all the creative ideas to bubble up witho
Four Hidden Benefits of Creating Content
Text Emily! Creating content with "character" is what this podcast is all about. Not simply creating more just for the sake of more, or because you feel like you should be, but coming from a place of depth, intention, and a desire to spark more goodness in the world. In this episode, we’re talking about why to create content in the first place and the four hidden benefits to YOU to the creator when you do! Discover how your content gives back to those experiencing it and to you in this
Speaking and Podcast Guesting for Increased Visibility (Risky Business Series: Part 5) 😱
For up to 75% of the population, public speaking is their greatest fear. For some, it's even more scary than death itself! Stage and large audiences aside, this fear can even creep in with podcast guesting, showing up in your own video content, and more. In this episode, we're headed into the haunted house of speaking and giving you tips on how to get started with more confidence, why to consider it as a tool for your business visibility, how to find the ever-elusive speaking opportu
Trick or Treat Marketing (Risky Business: Part 4) 🍬
Want to make your content and marketing more of a treat and steer clear of all the trickery out there? In this episode, we’re going to get into three ways to do just that! For this month of October 2023 - in the spirit of Halloween, we’ve been getting into some of the darker sides of marketing and business with some of those not entirely FUN things that happen to us as entrepreneurs. What to do When Things Fail (Part 1) What to do When Your Business is Slow (Part 2) Are Ghosts Really so Scary? (
Are Ghosts Really so Scary? (Risky Business Series: Part 3) 👻
Text Emily! Research shows that up to 23% of people have been ghosted in the US. Other terms closely related to this phenomenon include "breadcrumbing," "benching," "the slow fade". But these aren’t as spooky as straight-up ghosting. Why is the ghosting technique becoming more prevalent in the online business world with collaborators, connections, clients, and even contractors? In this week's episode, I wanted to take some time and first share some examples of
What to Do When Your Business is Slow (Risky Business Series: Part 2) 🎃
Quite a few entrepreneurs I’ve spoken with lately have shared with me that their businesses have experienced a serious slowdown this year. Some of the things that cause the speedbumps in our business are outside of our control, and some of them require us to honestly review and reconnect with the heartbeat of our businesses to help them move forward and pick up momentum. This episode will walk you through eight super tangible things you can do when your business experiences a slowdown to help yo
What to Do When Things Fail (Risky Business Series: Part 1) 🕷️
Text Emily! These days, we see a lot of highlight reels. A lot of successes, wins, accomplishments, achievements, celebrations, and not-so-humble brags. What we don’t always see or hear about are the flops, mistakes, and failures. The flailing and wailing that results when something doesn’t go at all how we hoped and planned, or it just doesn’t go… at all. In this week’s episode, we’re going to talk about what to do when we fail. "What to Do When Things Fail" is part one of my October
Taking Inventory
My goal for my life is a successful, kind, simple existence that I feel proud of. One that isn't complex or complicated or confusing. From relationships to business, I'm looking for things I look forward to waking up to each and every day! For me, that's the definition of success. The way to start achieving that, I believe, is to let go of all the things that are getting in the way. Yet, despite my best intentions, I complicate, confuse, and get stuck in situations that I know aren’t right for
Make Time Your Friend (instead of just managing it)!
Text Emily! There are tons of tips and tricks out there on time management. A lot of it is really helpful, and a lot of it works. And, sometimes despite our best efforts, we can’t get it to stick. I think it goes a layer deeper than that and in this episode, we’re going to talk about some time befriendment strategies for you to try for yourself! So you can stop MANAGING your time and be it’s best buddy instead. Your time matters and this episode will walk you through some tangible examples, prac
THIS or THAT? Five choices to make in your marketing and messaging
Seems nowadays everyone’s got an opinion. Some say do this. Others say do that. If you spend any time online or on social media, you'll see a lot of definite lines drawn in the sand, all of which say polar opposite things you "should" be doing. It can be confusing when it comes to choosing THIS or THAT in various aspects of our businesses, marketing, and messaging. So, how do you make sense of all the noise and figure out what THIS or THAT is right for YOU? THIS episode will help you do exactly
How to Get Other People to Talk About YOU!
We're wrapping up our writing and talking about ourselves series with a fun one! How to get your clients, customers, listeners, your people to talk about YOU! If you’re a regular listener, you know that I regularly read listener reviews here on the show. I ask you almost every single week for a review once during the episode and once again at the end of the episode. This isn't because I think I’m so wildly amazing podcaster with the best podcast out there on content creation, and not so I can gr
How to Talk About Yourself (podcast guesting, speaking engagements, networking, and more!)
What’s the difference between talking about yourself and bragging about yourself? Does everyone feel awkward in networking situations or is that just me? When you’re on a podcast or introducing yourself from the stage, how do you avoid getting into entire life story territory but still make sure to include all the highlights? You’re going to want to listen to this episode because I'm getting into how to about talk about ourselves verbally. You can take these ideas and apply them to podcast inter
IS it About You? The About Page Debate
You’re so vain… You probably think this About Page is about you… Wait, is it!? Is it not!? Maybe you’ve heard it both ways - in this episode of Content with Character, let’s settle the debate once and for all! Well, maybe I'll let you draw your own conclusions after you listen... But we will definitely talk about writing your About Page. There are two general camps: The argument that your about page is about you. And the argument that your about page is about your clients. Which is right? I
How to Write About Yourself: Bio-Building Made FUN!
Text Emily! So you need to write about yourself? Maybe you’re a guest speaker or going to be on someone’s podcast? Maybe you’re working on your About page or a profile for an organization you're part of? Perhaps you're refreshing your LinkedIn because #SpringCleaninginAugustAnyone?How do you convey WHO you are WHAT you offer and what sets you apart in a concise and memorable way? How do you write about YOURSELF? This episode will help you do just that! In this episode, I get into FIVE
Is Cutting Corners Costing You!?
Text Emily! This episode comes to you from the trenches of a recent business debacle that's been building for five years now. It will help you look at where you might need to move FAST and take some inspired action in your life and business and where you might need to take a pause, move with more intention, and ask the right questions before getting started. In this episode: Announcing the review winner! Congrats to ShopGirl74A story about my recent MailShrimp disaster and how it all goes b
Three Reasons Your Social Media Might Not Be "Working" (and what to do about it!)
What does it look like when your social media is "working" for you?The social media deck isn't always stacked in our favor, and it can feel harder than ever to be "successful" on social media. In this week's episode, I'll help us put more reasonable expectations on social media as we look at three reasons it might not be working, and some tweaks to make. Plus, I'll be giving you three ideas for building your business off of social media too! In this episode: A question to determine what your soc
Which Social Media Platform is Right For Your Business?
Text Emily! My relationship status with social media is "complicated". I’m willing to be that if you’re listening to this, and you’re on board with unconventional approaches to visibility and marketing, your relationship status with social is probably complicated too. In this episode, I share openly my thoughts and feelings recently on social media and how I sort of hit a breaking point that led me to record this episode, plus the full circle moment that kept me going. I also share tho
What Does it Mean to Show Up?
Text Emily! Visibility! It's what this podcast is all about, it's about being seen, seeing YOURSELF, showing up, and it’s a gift... AND it’s not without its challenges. What you do in your business visibility-wise is an ongoing process and evolution. How you choose to show up and get your message out there, be seen, and create a connection is a constant work in progress. I think you learn a lot about your business and propel yourself forward as an entrepreneur AND I think you learn a l
Creative Dry Spells: Ideas to spark creativity and inspiration
Text Emily! Have you ever taken a ride through the creative Sahara desert? You’re sittin’ there, trying to come up with ideas, create stunning content, or even just write a single darn sentence, and the only thing coming out of you is the hair you’re tearing out? Call it writer’s block, crickets, the creative desert, or blinking cursor. It can be super frustrating, a leave you wondering if it will ever return. This episode will help you UNBLOCK the creative block and give you some CREATIVE ideas
How to Pitch Like a Human (three tips for podcast guesting and speaking opportunities)
I often hear business owners who have the desire to get more visibility through podcast guesting and speaking. These opportunities tend to not just happen magically or overnight and getting them can feel overwhelming at first. There’s a lot to consider but it’s well worth seeing if it’s a good next step for YOU to increase your visibility This episode will show you the benefits of being a podcast guest and guest speaker and make this whole pitching thing more actionable, and human. You'll walk a
How to Create a Storybank for Your Content
Text Emily! We’re constantly hearing and reading about storytelling in business and how we need to do more of it! “Your audience loves stories.”“People connect with stories.”“Tell a story and you can’t go wrong.”Where are you supposed to find all these stories? There are also a lot of resources out there sharing about WHY stories are so important, but not nearly as much about how you can actually get started in pulling them together to create content. In this week's episode of Content with
Four Out-of-the-Box Ways to Increase Visibility
Visibility keeps you top-of-mind, helps you to reach and connect with potential clients and collaborators, and share your message with others. You’re probably already familiar with being visible through classic networking events, speaking engagements, posting to social media, and more! In this episode, I’ll share four out-of-the-box ways to think of visibility along with some action steps you can take right away. There’s something in this episode that I think you can apply whether you’re buildin
The Myth of Consistency (three marketing messages giving you the wrong idea)
Text Emily! For as many people as there out there who sing the praises of consistency, there are twice as many trying to take it down and give it a bad rap. Consistency is one of those things that gets a little misunderstood in the online space, and can get confused with its cousin (sister?) frequency. This episode will help you rethink your relationship with consistency and why you might want to give it a second chance, plus some other misconceptions about marketing messages in the online space
Choosing a Content Strategy that Works for YOU!
In this episode, I share about four types of content strategy and how to choose which is right for you. You'll have what you need to decide for yourself whether or not your need a content strategy as you learn what it can and can't do for your content marketing. We'll discuss how to tie your own business goals for the month together with what your clients need and want. I'll break down these four potential content strategies and make them easy, plus show you the method to my madness in mapping i
How Dandelions Can Inspire Your Marketing: An Easy Content Framework
Text Emily! In this episode, I talk about Dandelions and what they have to do with your marketing. We're actually going to get a little bit into gardening too, but we’re going to start with Dandelions. My logo for my business (designed by Lindsay Taylor Brand Designer of Taylored Image) is a dandelion. Dandelions have a lot of whimsical memories and meanings for me personally and we can channel their energy, as it relates to our marketing, messaging, and our business' impact spreading
Content is a Bridge: Who Are We Talking To?
Text Emily! Content has so much power when we take a little time on the front end of the content creation process to consider our goals with our marketing content and get clear on the person we're speaking to. I see business owners missing this mark when it comes to their content and messaging by skipping this crucial piece and keeping their content focused on the HERO of the story - the customer/client. This episode will help you gain insights into your clients and customers in a new way s
What's Content Marketing Actually? And Why it Matters So Darn Much!
Text Emily! What's content marketing really? Content Marketing is using the content you generate strategically to attract new customers and clients, and keeps you TOP of mind. In this episode, we get into what on earth content really means, what content marketing is, whether or not every business needs it, and how it might not be what you think or always thought. We hear the word entrepreneurial buzzwords, like content, a lot, and half the time we don't even really know what they mean.
Four Questions to Ask When Taking on a New Project
Text Emily! When it comes to visibility, content creation, marketing, new platforms, and doing all the things… it can be easy to just jump into something without making sure that it’s really 100% for YOU! I’ve been there, done that. Now, I ask myself these four questions when considering whether or not to say "yes"!In this episode, I’m going to give you four questions to ask when taking on a new project. When we consider different ways to increase visibility and gain momentum in busine
Welcome to Content with Character
Text Emily! Welcome to the Content with Character podcast with me, your host, Emily Aborn! This first episode will help you determine if this podcast is for you and what kind of content you can expect on the show. I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to be for everyone. Wanting and trying to get everyone under the sun to "like" me. After 37ish years of this chameleon act in life and business, I realized that... it’s exhausting, it keeps us stuck, and it keeps us afraid.In releasing Conte