Friends With Business Benefits

In today's episode, we're talking about the Wheel of the Year, a seasonal cycle of eight festivals, or sabbats, that mark the passage of time through the year, connecting with the Earth's natural rhythms and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Charlie explains the significance of the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days, describing some of the symbols and traditions associated with them. We also discuss different ways you can use the Wheel of the Year within your creative business. From seasonal projects and activities to intention setting, this episode contains lots of resources and ideas to help get you started with this seasonal framework. Links and Further ReadingWheel of the Year on Google Calendar (add the one titled Pagan/Wiccan Holidays)Brand SeasonsKatherine MayCreating Everyday RitualsEverythinglooksrosieAre you familiar with the Wheel of the Year? Is it something you use in your creative business? We'd love to hear from you! Join the conversation on Substack to share your thoughts.Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Inspired by a recent conversation during one of our real-life co-mentoring sessions, today we're asking whether a picture is REALLY worth a thousand words. Spoiler alert - Franky doesn't think so! We're constantly told we live in a visual world, especially when it comes to doing business online, but are headshots, logos, and brand colours really the most important thing? Listen as we explore this topic, chatting about ocularcentrism, the perils of neglecting your website copy, audio branding and more. Links and Further ReadingEmma Dabiri on How to FailThe Ultimate Guide to Sonic Branding with George and Luke from Hear Me OutWhat do you think about the relationship between words and visuals? Is one more important than the other? We'd love to hear from you! Join the conversation on Substack to share your thoughts.Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

When it comes to your business, how much self-belief do you have? In today's episode, we're answering this question and exploring why self-belief is so important when you work for yourself.As well as discussing how our relationship with self-belief has changed over the years, we dive into the differences between inner work and external validation. We also share some of the things we've tried to boost our self-belief. Links and Further ReadingThe Art of Requesting, Receiving and Giving FeedbackTransform Your Business with Co-Mentoring What Gives Us the Business ScariesIs self-belief something you need to work on? Or are you already nailing it? We'd love to hear from you! Join the conversation on Substack to share your experiences.Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we're reflecting on Quarter 1 and looking ahead to Quarter 2 in our respective businesses. Find out what felt good, what didn't and what we've learned in the process.We also talk about our words of the year and how they've been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the next three months of 2025 and discuss what we're both hoping to achieve before the next time we have this chat.Links and Further ReadingElise JoyOne Year Without Social MediaHow I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Phone by Erik Winkowski Studio GentlyThrough The Gentle Lens by Anna ConsidineJoin us on Substack where you can share your thoughts on this episode in the comments. Come and tell us your own intentions for Q2… we'd love to cheer you on!Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

After six years of podcasting, we thought it was about time we shared an updated episode on our specialist subject - co-mentoring. For those who don't know, Friends With Business Benefits wouldn't exist if we hadn't started co-mentoring first. As well as sharing our co-mentoring origin story, we answer some of your most common questions. What is co-mentoring and what can it do for your business? What makes a good co-mentor and how can you find your own? We also share tips and advice to help you establish a consistent co-mentoring practice. As we head into Q2, it feels like the perfect time to lean into this transformative habit. Good luck! Links and Further ReadingFinding Your Own Co-Mentor5 Things I've Gained from Co-MentoringThings That Make Our Business Worlds BetterAre you tempted to give co-mentoring a go? Already a fan? We'd love to hear from you! Join the conversation on Substack to share your experiences.Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

It's the perfect time of year to spring clean your rhythms and routines, so that's what we're talking about in today's episode. While some things will naturally shift as the seasons change, certain areas of life and business require us to be more intentional. Listen as Charlie walks us through her process, explaining how she supports her mentees to do the same. From figuring out what's working and what's not to adopting new habits and overhauling your working week, we discuss everything you need to know about refreshing your daily rhythms. Links and Further ReadingWeekly Rhythm WorksheetsAre you refreshing your rhythms or routines for spring? Join the conversation on Substack to tell us all about it. We'd love to hear from you!Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

When is a pivot not a pivot and how do you know when it's time to evolve? This week, we're answering both these questions and more, digging into the practicalities of switching things up in your small business. We cover the realties of being solely responsible for you own professional development, reasons you might want to evolve, and the steps you need to take in order to do so. We also share evolutions we've been through as business owners in the past and where we hope innovative thinking might take us in the future. Links and Further ReadingJoin the conversation on Substack to share your thoughts on evolving in business. We'd love to hear from you!Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

It's time for our annual ‘planner meeting' where we review the previous year's planners and journals and discuss what we'll be using for the year ahead.As well as sharing the notebooks and diaries we've invested in this year, we explain how we'll be using them to stay organised at work and at home. It's a must-listen for stationery fans and those who prefer pen and paper-based productivity tools!Links and Further ReadingThe 6 Minute Success JournalLunar Planners by Nikki Strange CEO of My Own Life Planner by Ella IconicHow to pronounce Leuchtturm 1917Join the conversation on Substack to tell us all about your own planner plans for the year ahead. We'd love to hear from you!Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

We're kicking off the new year with our annual cosy conversation about reflections and intentions. Find out what went well for us last year and what we learned from the things that didn't. We also chat about our words of the year, share a few goals for 2025, and make some solid(ish) plans for Q1.Links and Further ReadingThe Power of PlayLarking AboutContent Creatives with Charlie SwiftJoin the conversation on Substack to tell us all about your plans for the year ahead. We'd love to hear from you!Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In our final episode of the year, join us as we run through some of our non-business related faves.As well as our favourite films, TV shows, music and books, we chat about the habits and experiences we've enjoyed the most. It's an episode filled with recommendations, just for you!Thank you for listening throughout 2024 and merry Christmas from both of us to all who celebrate!Links and Further Reading Join the conversation on Substack where you can share your thoughts and fill us in on some of your own favourites. We'd love to hear from you!Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we're chatting about the power of play and what happens when you choose to prioritise and embrace it. Franky describes the transformative journey she's been on this year after choosing ‘play' as her guiding word. We discuss the impact it's had on her mindset, her business and her life outside work. Charlie also shares what play has looked like for her over the last 12 months, and we both share tips to help you embrace all things playful in 2025. Links and Further Reading@artgurl on Instagram making “bad art”Junk Journal JanuaryGet MessyLarking AboutJoin the conversation on Substack to tell us how you feel about play and doing things ‘just for fun' alongside running a creative business. We'd love to hear your thoughts! Connect With UsFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

This week we're tackling a huge topic - the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the small business world as a whole and on us as individuals. Charlie talks about using AI as a collaborative tool, highlighting some of the benefits, while Franky is very honest about how she thinks ChatGPT is already affecting her bottom line. We dive into some of the ethical issues surrounding AI and contemplate a future where more and more of the content we consume is created by robots.Links and Further ReadingYuval Noah Harari on How to Fail with Elizabeth DayJoin the conversation on Substack where you can share your thoughts on AI and tell us about your own experiences using (or avoiding) ChatGPT. We'd love to hear from you!Connect With Us Friends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswift Subscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we're chatting all things email marketing.To kick things off, Franky shares a personal dilemma about whether or not she should move her mailing list away from Mailchimp and/or start a Substack. As well as covering the pros and cons of various email marketing platforms, we also discuss strategy, consistency, outsourcing and AI, what we write about and how we come up with ideas.  Links and Further Reading:What Makes a Good Email Lead Magnet?Are You Going to Start a Substack?How Are We Showing Up On Substack This Year Flodesk (affiliate link)Boatman Admin ServicesPlotting by Katie SadlerLiz MosleyHi CommunicationsJoin the conversation on Substack where you can share your thoughts on this episode and tell us about your own email marketing in the comments. We'd love to hear from you!Connect With Us Friends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswift Subscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

As we head into the darker, colder months of the year, we're how we embrace and survive the autumn/winter season. Whether you love this time of year or not, there's something in this mini-episode for everyone.  Charlie describes some of her favourite seasonal rituals and Franky raves about her beloved thermal leggings. From making our homes feel cosy to working from home when it's cold, we share tips and advice to help you get the most out of this time of year.  Links and Further Reading:The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel SlaterWintering by Katherine MayM&S Thermal LeggingsFranky's Wrist WarmersCharlie's Autumnal  PlaylistJoin us on Substack where you can share any reflections on the episode in the comment section. Come and tell us your own intentions for Q4…we'd love to cheer you on!Connect With Us Friends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswift Subscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

We're back from our summer break and ready for a big catch up! In this episode, we're reflecting on Quarter 3 and looking ahead to Quarter 4. Find out what felt good, what didn't and what we've learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they've been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the final three months of 2024 and discuss what we're both hoping to achieve before the end of the year.   Links and Further ReadingAre You Going to Start a Substack?How Are We Showing Up On Substack This Year What is EFT/'Tapping'?EFT/'Tapping': Becoming a Channel for Creativity (Releasing Creative Blocks)Join us on Substack where you can share any reflections on the episode in the comment section. Come and tell us your own intentions for Q4…we'd love to cheer you on!Connect With Us Friends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswift Subscribe to Our Mailing ListsFranky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In today's episode, we're introducing our summer series. For the very first time, we'll be taking a proper planned break from recording and rereleasing some of our best episodes while we're away. Before we switch off for the summer, we're also chatting about how we're going to approach the next six weeks in our businesses. We cover everything from travel plans and taking time off to juggling childcare and showing up online.We hope you enjoy listening to some of our back catalogue over the next few weeks. We'll be in your ears again with a brand new episode in September!       Connect with usFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to our mailing lists Franky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

This week, it's Charlie's turn to mine Franky for some expert advice! After neglecting her business blog for a VERY long time, she's wondering how to get back into the habit of posting. More to the point, should she even bother trying?As well as explaining the benefits of blogging, Franky shares practical tips and lots of motivation to help you create more long-form content and bring new potential customers to your website.Connect with usFriends With Business Benefits on Substackcharlieswift.comlove-audrey.comFind Us On Instagram@loveaudrey83@_charlieswiftSubscribe to our mailing lists Franky's Mailing ListCharlie's Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we're reflecting on Quarter 2 and looking ahead to Quarter 3. Find out what felt good, what didn't and what we've learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they've been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the next three months of the year and discuss what we're both hoping to achieve before the end of the summer.   Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift

This week, we're chatting about in-person networking. Although it was something we both leaned on heavily in the early days of freelancing, the pandemic had a huge impact on its role in our businesses. As Franky recently attended her first in-person event in almost 5 years, it seems like a good time to explore this topic and discuss what networking looks and feels like in 2024.    As well as sharing tips to help you get the most out of in-person events, we cover different forms of networking and touch on the issue of accessibility and inclusivity. We also wonder out loud about hosting an in-person networking event of our own…          Links and Further Reading Spark Social Doing It For The Kids Being Freelance Maddy & Pip Rules of Engagement Prior Shop    Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List  

How do you feel about Instagram trends? New trends, old trends, emerging trends, micro trends - love them or hate them, the app is full of them!    In this episode, we're discussing Instagram trends in-depth, examining their impact, weighing up the pros and cons, and exploring how you can figure the ones to avoid and the ones you should jump on. From trending audio to tiny mics, we cover a lot of ground! As well as venting about the trends we hate, we chat about the ones we love and share tips to help you make familiar trends your own.        Links and Further Reading Liz Mosley on Auditory Branding Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com  

In today's episode, we're asking whether ‘everything is content'. This popular mantra is a phrase we've used and repeated ourselves, but is it true? How helpful is this approach and are there any pitfalls to avoid? Thinking critically and adding some much needed nuance, we explore content buckets, boundaries, protecting other people's privacy and more.     Links and Further Reading Embracing and Creating Video Content Friends with Business Boundaries Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com

In this mini episode, Charlie poses a question she originally asked on Instagram - do you make time for non-business activities during your working week?  After discussing things that might fall under this banner including life admin, self-care and creative dates, we explore why it might be hard to dedicate time to these activities when you could be working. We also share tips and advice  to help you overcome these barriers and be the best boss you've ever had!       Links and Further Reading How to Do Life and Run a Business  Our Current Working Routines Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com  

Are you feeling overwhelmed by Instagram? Are you overthinking your content and struggling to show up? Franky was. Having spent the last couple of years hiding on Instagram Stories and rarely posting to the grid, she finally realised something had to change. Luckily, her co-mentor happens to be an Insta-expert who gives excellent creative pep talks! Listen as we discuss how Franky's been feeling about Instagram, why she wanted to change her relationship with the app in 2024, and the advice Charlie gave her to get unstuck and start showing up. We recorded this episode in early February and since then Franky's stuck to her posting schedule and even had a reel go {a little bit} viral! If you'd like to move past the overwhelm, stop overthinking and start taking action, the tips in this episode can help.    Links and Further Reading Book an Instagram Audit with Charlie Overcoming Instagram Stumbling Blocks Embracing and Creating Video Content Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List

In this chatty episode, we're looking back on the first three months of the year and ahead to Quarter 2. Find out what felt good, what didn't and what we've learned in the process. We discuss how Franky has been showing up on Instagram and her brush with having a Reel go viral, and also talk through Charlie's relationship with consistency in content creation in this season. We also chat about our words of the year and how they've been showing up for us so far, plus we dig into our plans for Q2 and discuss what we're both hoping to achieve before the end of June. Links and Further Reading: www.instagram.com/rachaelrenae Work With Us: Book an Instagram Audit with Charlie charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

In this mini episode, we're sharing ideas and inspiration to help you sneak more creativity into your daily life, especially if you're short on time and/or caring for small children.    From finding the magic in the mundane to portable crafts you can do in front of the TV, there's a mix of practical advice and gentle encouragement, all based on personal experience and our belief that creativity can be a powerful form of self-care.     Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List  

This week we're revisiting the topic of Substack. We disscuss whether or not the platform is a part of our content plans in this season, and what we're feeling called to consume and create there. Charlie shares how she is showing up on Substack this year and Franky touches on creating for the platform as a copywriter. We also breakdown the differnt ways you may engage with Substack content as a reader and talk about the various features and models the platform has to offer.    Charlie's Substack: 'Intentonal Creatives' Sparkle on Substack resources and membership

We celebrated 100 episodes of Friends With Business Benefits and five whole years of podcasting by going live on Instagram to record this episode.  Having hit such a big content creation milestone, we made that the focus, answering listener questions about creating and sharing content for your business. We cover podcasting, productivity, brainstorming ideas and more! Whether you're an OG listener or a newbie, thanks for supporting our podcast!    Links and Further Reading Watch the live episode here Our most downloaded episode Trello Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com  

Inspired by Gretchen Rubin, we've both adopted the habit of compiling a list of aims at the start of a new year. There's no right or wrong way to do it, but for us it's never a business-focussed list. Instead, we both include fun, playful things we want to prioritise. We've found it's a great way to identify what we want the year to hold. In this episode, we're sharing our ‘24 for 2024' lists in the hope that it will make you want to compile your own.    Links and Further Reading   Gretchen Rubin's 24 for 2024 Trifecta   Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com  

It's time for our annual ‘planner meeting' where we review the previous year's planners and journals and discuss what we'll be using for the year ahead. As well as sharing the notebooks and diaries we've invested in this year, we explain how we'll be using them to stay organised at work and at home. It's a must-listen for stationery fans and those who prefer pen and paper-based productivity tools!     Links and Further Reading Lunar Moon Diary  The 6-Minute Success Journal  LSW Morning Notes  Habit Daily App  The Circle Planner  The Ultimate Daily Notebook The Five Minute Journal  Leuchtturm1917  

We're kicking off the new year with our annual cosy conversation about reflections and intentions. Find out what went well for us last year and what we learned from the things that didn't. We also chat about our words of the year, share a few goals for 2024, and make some solid(ish) plans for Q1.    Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List  

Join us as we run through some of our non-business related 2023 favs. We chat about our favourite films, TV shows, music and books, as well as discussing the purchases we've made, habits we've followed, experiences we've enjoyed and places we've been. An episode full of recommendations for you! Thank you for listening throughout 2023 and a very merry christmas from us both!

In this mini episode we're jumping on a TikTok trend and sharing a list of things that make our business worlds better. From daily habits and wellbeing rituals to clever software and our favourite tech, there's plenty of inspiration for everyone.       Links and Further Reading: Franky's favs... 'What is Comentoring' podcast episode Boatman VA services Circle planner   Charlie's favs... Trello 101 Get 50% off Flodesk (aff link) Lunar diary by Nikki Strange      

In this episode, we're talking about putting your prices up. It's a topic we originally planned to discuss this time last year, but when we came to record, neither of us felt up to discussing money on mic. Not only is it a tricky subject to broach - increasing your prices can be a tricky thing to act on in your business.  12 months later, we're finally ready to explore this subject with you. Franky shares what she's learned from increasing her prices at the start of the year and Charlie talks about her desire to focus on the money side of things more in 2024. As well as discussing where we are with our own pricing, we share tips and advice to help you with yours.     Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

Inspired by Halloween earlier this week, we're sharing things that give us the business scaries!    For Charlie, it's overcommitting, public speaking and talking to camera, while Franky struggles to share her professional expertise on Instagram and record voiceovers for reels. As well as discussing where these fears come from, we explore ways in which we might be able to overcome them.         Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

In this episode, we're going over some Instagram basics and sharing tips to help you overcome common stumbling blocks and avoid overwhelm.   As well as things like writing the perfect bio and using your pinned posts effectively, we cover stats and data, content ideas, trends and more. We also discuss mindset in relation to the app and run through a few ways to prevent it from sucking the joy out of running your business.    Links and Further Reading/Listening Embracing and Creating Video Content    How We Use Instagram Stories for Business What Happened When Charlie Went Viral? How to Stop Hating on Instagram When and Why to Mute and Unfollow on Instagram   Work With Us *** Book an Instagram Audit with Charlie *** charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift

91. Q3 Reflections, Q4 Intentions   In this episode, we're reflecting on Quarter 3 and looking ahead to Quarter 4. Find out what felt good, what didn't and what we've learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they've been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the final three months of the year and discuss what we're both hoping to achieve before the end of 2023.      Links and Further Reading   Being Freelance Visibility Talks Sparkle on Substack Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

The online world is fast paced. There's always something new to discover. New software, new social media platforms, new types of content. When it comes to trying new things in your business, do you tend to feel overwhelmed or excited?     Today's episode was recorded back in July when we were both in the early stages of trying some new things. Charlie was experimenting with the recently launched social media platform, Threads, and Franky was posting to a brand new crafty account on Instagram. Our experiences inspired a broader conversation about trying new things in general.  You'll hear us discuss ‘shiny new thing syndrome', the pros and cons of being an early adopter, and whether being ‘late to the party' is actually a good thing. We also chat about the power of FOMO and how we figure out when to embrace new things, when to bide our time and when to sit things out completely.    Links and Further Reading Episode Are You Going to Start a Substack? Franky's crafty Instagram account Charlie on Threads Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

Inspired by a recent video from Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, today's episode is dedicated to one of the app's older features - Instagram Stories. It may not be as shiny and new as Reels or Threads, but it's still a valuable marketing tool, not to mention Franky's favourite place to hang out online! We chat about how we use Instagram Stories, the pros and cons of the platform, and the types of content we share. We also discuss the role of DMs and share some tips for showing up and telling stories of your own.   Links and Further Reading How the Algorithm Works    Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

As we head into what should be the warmest, sunniest part of the year, we're sharing how we embrace and survive the summer season. Whether you love this time of year or not, there's something in this episode for everyone.    As well as discussing how we're planning to juggle work and childcare during the six-week summer break, we're sharing some of our favourite seasonal rituals and lots of advice to help you get the most out of this time of year.     Links and Further Reading The Cosy Episode     Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

In this chatty episode, we're reflecting on Quarter 2 and looking ahead to Quarter 3. Find out what felt good, what didn't and what we've learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they've been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the next three months of the year and discuss what we're both hoping to achieve before the end of the summer.      Links and Further Reading Maddy Shine's Visible Vibes Community   Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

When you're working towards a specific business goal or dream, how do you get on with self-imposed deadlines? Do you find them easy to stick to or do you avoid setting them in the first place? In this episode, we're responding to a listener's question, digging into the subject of deadlines and sharing everything we know about getting things done. As well as discussing different types of deadlines and different strategies for meeting them, we touch on what it might mean if you keep dodging the deadlines you set.       Links and Further Reading Playing Big by Tara Mohr   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift

In this episode, we're approaching the topic of feedback from a few different angles.  For Franky, asking clients for feedback is baked into her working process. As a copywriter, she produces drafts for clients to review. The quality of the feedback she receives can have a huge impact on the final product. Over the years, she's worked hard to ensure this happens in a thorough and efficient way. She's also learned a lot about moving through the discomfort that can come from inviting criticism.  Although Franky's examples are fairly specific to copywriting, there are useful takeaways for anyone considering outsourcing things in their business. Charlie offers her perspective too and considers whether she's missing any opportunities for requesting feedback and improving her services.     Links and Further Reading The Power of Testimonials and Reviews Friends with Business Boundaries Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift 

After a year of regularly creating and sharing reels on Instagram, Charlie recently had a video go viral. In this episode, we're chatting about her experience and what it feels like to suddenly have so many eyes on your content. As well as digging into the reasons why this particular reel seems to have done so well, Charlie explains what she's learned and how she'll be approaching future content creation as a result.    Links and Further Reading Embracing and Creating Video Content Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   

In this episode, we're discussing what makes a good email lead magnet. We share our differing stances on having lead magnets in our businesses, chat through the pros and cons of differnt types of lead magnets and how to choose one that aligns with your strategy. We also share what to do once you have your lead magnet in place, how to buil an email nuture sequence and how to make the most of your content.

This week, inspired by Charlie's recent experience launching three new services, we're talking about naming things within your business. We know this can be a huge obstacle when you're creating new products and packages. After all, if you want to sell something, you've got to know what it's called!  Franky offers a copywriter's perspective, sharing tips and advice to make the process a little easier. As well as describing different ways to approach naming things, she explains the importance of clarity and highlights a few things to avoid.               Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com  

It's that time again! We're reflecting on Quarter 1 and sharing what felt good, what didn't and what we've learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they've been showing up for us since our last check-in. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the next three months and discuss what we're hoping to achieve before the end of Quarter 2.      Links and Further Reading The Best 90 Days Ever (affiliate link) Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift 

This week we're responding to a listener request and diving into the popular topic of routines. We're sharing how we approach the working week and juggle running a business alongside other responsibilities like looking after our children and managing a chronic health condition.    As well as describing our morning and evening routines, we're chatting about what our working weeks look like, how our rhythms and routines have changed over the years and why we strive to keep things nice and flexible. We're in very different seasons of life, so there should be something useful and/or inspiring for everyone in this episode!   Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List

Seasons of stress and overwhelm are nothing new, especially if you run your own business, but has our ability to cope been impacted by the pandemic and other world events over the last few years? It certainly looks that way from where we're standing.    In this episode, we're chatting about our current capacity for stress and how we think our resilience has been affected by everything we've lived through since March 2020. We're also sharing our go-to methods for coping with overwhelm, including radical prioritisation, single tasking, self-compassion and simple practices to calm your nervous system.    Links and Further Reading Is Stress Inevitable When You're Self-Employed? Some Thoughts on Dropping Balls Why We Love Ta-Da Lists  Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List  

Does promoting your products and services make you feel a bit… uncomfortable? Do you struggle to show up and sell your stuff? Well, you're not alone. As well as experiencing this ourselves, it's something we hear all the time from clients.  In this episode, we're chatting about why selling can be hard and sharing our advice to make the whole process easier. We cover a lot of ground, including what is and isn't ‘hard selling', the mindset shift you might need to make more sales and our new mantra - ‘you are allowed to sell your stuff and make money'.         Links and Further Reading How to Create a Seamless, On-Brand Customer Experience  Liz Mosley  Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List

Although working from home can provide the perfect opportunity to eat well, it's easy to slip into bad habits. Eating at your desk, skipping lunch completely and surviving on caffeine and biscuits.   Before we were business besties, we bonded over our love of food. In this episode, we're talking about the things we cook and eat while working from home. As well as being a love letter to lunch breaks, it's the encouragement you need to start building some nourishing habits into your work days.         Links and Further Reading Glucose Goddess Dr. Tim Spector   Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List

Have you heard the Japanese phrase ‘techo kagai'? Roughly translated, it means ‘planner meeting' - taking the time to review your previous year's planner and journals and decide what you'll use for the year ahead. In this episode, we're holding our own techo kagai and sharing our planner plans for 2023. From bullet journaling fails to the notebooks and diaries we're investing in this year, it's a must-listen for stationery fans and those who prefer pen and paper-based productivity tools.   Links and Further Reading Ella Iconic Pretty Post Nikki Strange Lethally Her Katiekplans   Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com   Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift   Franky's Mailing List Charlie's Mailing List