The Marketing Matters Podcast with Beth Gebhard

Today, I'm joined by THE LinkedIn expert, Louise Brogan. Please promise me that you will listen to this episode because I am telling you: LinkedIn is the most overlooked and underutilized option for you and there's GOLD in those hills. Truly. I mean, let's just be honest, folks on LinkedIn have money to spend. So, why shouldn't they spending it on YOU. And, if you're thinking, you're a creative and there's no place for creatives on LI, you're wrong. And, she'll give you a specific case study of an artist who made a killing off of sharing her art on LinkedIn. From personal pages vs. company pages, to lead attraction tactics, to how often to post and what content works, to optimizing your profile, we cover it all here!  Also, this is the final episode of this short-lived podcast experiment for me. I am closing my business in order to accept a new VP, Marketing role with the podcast QUEEN: Amy Porterfield! It's a job of a lifetime, and I'm seizing it. Thank you so much for your support for me over the years, and I do hope you'll remember that marketing is simply about attention, connection, and trust. It's not about the latest trends and quick hits. It's a long game built from the foundation of your brand. And, it should be FUN! 

First, let's just be clear ... I may be able to diagnose these five mistakes I'm seeing, but I have also been guilty of every single one of them at some point. Guys, I am one of you –I'm wearing "all of the hats" in my business and trying to actually make a living in it, too. And, it's really freakin' hard to market your business and do it well, consistently. Trust me, I really do know. So, now that we have that part clear, in this epsidoe I talk about the five top marketing mistakes I see business owners making including: Not having a deep sense of your brand. Not having a marketing plan. Not measuring your efforts. Not trying out new tactics. Not being organized. C'mon ... you know you're guilty of at least ONE of these. So, tune in to hear how you can tackle it starting today!  ------- Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Sign up here!  And, connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Let me just tell you, in this episode of the podcast, you are going to hear from a brand MASTER on how to build a recognizable and successful brand ...from a MULTI-TALENTED writer on how to be a success passionpreneur ... from a HEART-CENTERED business owner on how to build a business and a life you love ... from a SMART and self-reflective woman evolving and broadening both her business and legacy.  This is a NOT-TO-BE-MISSED episode with my dear friend and powerhouse Simplified® Founder Emily Ley. I'm so lucky to call her my friend since 2016 upon the launch of her first book, "Grace Not Perfection." I adore Emily for all that she is and all the goodness that she puts out into the world. Listen, learn, and fall in love ... promise you will.  --------- Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Sign up here! And connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Have you ever considered a rebrand but chickened out for fear that it was just too much to tackle?  It CAN be a huge undertaking, for sure, but it doesn't have to be. If the time is right, I love a rebrand! I've guided many clients through it myself, an, in this epsidoe, I walk you through the most important aspects of a rebrand including How to know if your business is in need of/if it's time for a rebrand. What a rebrand can accomplish for you and your business. What THE most important aspect to consider when rebranding. How to create a timeline and checklist of all that you need to consider when changing your brand. Plus, I share email marketing shifts and tips, and so much more.  ** And, if you're considering a rebrand and want my help with it, you can schedule a call with me today here: https://calendly.com/beth-gebhard/free-30-min-consultation ------------ Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Sign Up Here! And, connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram​

Have you ever wondered what the heck a marketing audit is? Sure, we ALL know what an audit is, but I'm talking about one that doesn't scare the bejeezus out of you.  The Marketing Audit. And listen, before you tune this out because you think this is a thing for big business, not for you ... I get that, but that's not true. Let's say you're a solopreneur, maybe may find yourself at an inflection point where you may be wondering if you should hire, if you should invest in paid ads, if you should upgrade your website, etc … an audit would help you make an informed decision there. Maybe you're a small team of 4, and you've been doing your thing and doing it well for the past 5 years, but it could be that you're on automatic pilot and it's time to shake things up.  Or, you could be a mid-sized business, a team of 30 generating millions and doing really well. You likely have a marketing director who's in control and doing his/her thing. But, if he/she is smart, they can recognize when it's time to take a big look under the hood. And, he/she will flag this to the executive team as a show of leadership and great responsibility. Now that I've convinced you that this episode FOR you, in this I share what a marketing audit is, why it's relevant, when to do it, how to do it, and what outcomes you can expect. And, if you're wanting one for YOUR business, schedule a call with me today here: https://calendly.com/beth-gebhard/free-30-min-consultation Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Sign Up Here!  And, connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram​  

Guys, it's Q2! Quarter two of 2022 is here, and I'm digging in today.  Q2 marks the beginning of warmth and summer travel planning ... it's Easter, Mother's Day, the End of the School Year, Father's Day, and more.  Btut, what else do business owners need to be aware of moving into Q2 of 2022? I talk about Inflation and other specific marketing tactics to consider and more.  Listen in to find out: -How to make the best quarterly plan (For Q2) and why you NEED one.  -Why making a quarterly plan is actually simpler than making an annual plan for your marketing strategy. -The benefits of setting aside time to ensure you are mapping out key dates, messages, channels, and assets! Grab  your copy of my Q2 Planning Worksheet HERE! ------- Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Join me! Newsletter Signup Need some marketing help? Book a Call with Me I'm not posting so much right now, but I DO have content on, and pay attention to the DMs here: Gebhard Strategy Instagram And, you can find me on LinkedIn at Beth's LinkedIn.   

I have just two words for you: Kalin. Sheick. To know her is to absolutely love her. To be her friend is a gift. To watch her in all of her badassery as the Owner & Creative Director of Sweetwater Floral is a front-row seat to brand and business-building from a pro. And, to laugh with her over her morning clinks is both an addiction and a joy.  Our friendship, one that came about in the most unique way (I share the story in our interview, by the way), is so dear to me. In just two years, we've cheered each other on/weathered the storms of a global pandemic, pregnancies, house moves, a divorce, and Instagram Reels. In other words, we've been through more than our fair share of life.  This interview is chock-full. In it, she shares: how she built the Sweetwater brand how she's navigating the Instagram algorithm changes her business & marketing philosophies her most annoying habit what keeps her up at night  AND ... she makes a BIG announcement, right here on my pod. Take a listen and enjoy! You can (and should!) follow Kalin on Instagram @sweetwaterfloral And sign up for her newsletter on her website: https://sweetwaterfloral.com/. --------- If you loved this, then you'll reallly love my Badass Business Owner blog series. Check it out here: https://gebhardstrategy.com/blog/. Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Join me! Newsletter Signup Need some marketing help? Book a Call with Me I'm not posting so much right now, but I DO have content on and pay attention to the DMs here: Gebhard Strategy Instagram And, you can find me on LinkedIn at Beth's LinkedIn. 

Does any of this sound familiar when you think of "content strategy?"  "What the heck IS that?" “I don't have the time” “I just don't know what to say” “I have nothing important to share” “I'm a bad writer” “I don't want to record a video” “I'd blogging still a thing?” “I hired someone to handle my content, but they're just not getting it done right.” I hear you … I've been there myself many times! But, knowing that content strategy can produce 3x the number of leads that a paid search campaign can (and cost you 62% less!), it's worth it for us to try to get better at it (or, at the very least, hate it a bit less. Right?) In this, I dig into to what I see are the top 3 problems that folks face when tackling content strategy, and I share some tips for ways to tackle each one! And, if you want to take it a step further, be sure to check out my 5-part blog series ALL about content strategy (what it is, how to do it well, and how to measure it) here: Let's Tackle Content Strategy One Bite at a Time Stack the Odds In Your Favor with Your Content Strategy Knowing Your Brand is the Key to Your Content Strategy How to Measure Your Content's Performance How to Map, Organize, Bank, and Schedule Your Content  ------------- Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Join me! Newsletter Signup Need some marketing help? Book a Call with Me I'm not posting right now, but I DO have content on Instagram & I am paying attention to DMs: Gebhard Strategy Instagram And, you can find me on LinkedIn at Beth's LinkedIn

If you listened to the first episode of this podcast, then you know I've chosen to come off of Instagram (for now, at least). But, you don't know how I plan to market my business instead.  In this episode, I outline my new strategy and tactics, and I cover the MULTITUDE of other marketing options that there are to pick and choose from in your own business.  Now, this is not to say that social media, with over 4.2 BILLION active users across the globe, isn't a terrific and low-cost marketing option that  serves many businesses extremely well.  But, I want you to think critically about what marketing strategy could work for you ––taking into consideration your bandwidth, your budget, and the ROI you're getting. Too, part of critical thinking is about taking what you know and applying your context to it. What works for one person/business, may not work for yours (even if they're selling you on the fact that it is).  YOU are in charge of your business and the way you market your business. You don't have to follow the pack. So, I hope you'll find some inspiration and ideas here with me today. Take a listen, and let me know what you think! You can email me at info@gebhardstrategy.com.  ** Also, I mention using Fiverr in this episode, and I wanted to link it here in case you also want to check it out: Fiverr —--------------------- Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Join me! Newsletter Signup Need some marketing help? Book a Call with Me I'm not posting right now, but I DO have content on Instagram & I am paying attention to DMs: Gebhard Strategy Instagram And, you can find me on LinkedIn at Beth's LinkedIn

Holy Moly, Guys... I have a podcast!!! So, hit the subscribe button now, while I have your attention. (Oh, and if you like it, go on and give it a rating, too!)  Anyway, about this ... Yep, I did it. ME. A MARKETING professional. I quit Instagram (and Facebook, for that matter) because, after nearly two years of showing up fairly consistently on the platform, I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't working for me or my business.  Here's the thing – to be successful in marketing, it's important to develop the muscle for experimentation. No one formula fits every business when it comes to marketing, and if you've given something a solid try, and it's not producing the results you're after, then you need to switch gears. Admittedly, though, it wasn't only about the lack of results that led me to this decision. The endless, wasted time scrolling + the feelings of comparison + exhausting  attempts at "keeping up" were also, frankly, draining. You, too? I hope you'll take a listen and be inspired to consider those tactics/ "necessary evils" in your business that you may be pouring time, energy, and money into that aren't satisfying or yielding results. Let me be the one to tell you: LET IT GO. Try something else!  ------------------ Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Join me! Newsletter Signup Need some marketing help? Book a Call with Me I'm not posting right now, but I DO have content on Instagram & I am paying attention to DMs: Gebhard Strategy Instagram And, you can find me on LinkedIn at Beth's LinkedIn

Can you have successful marketing without a solid brand? Sure. You can razzle dazzle with slick marketing all day long, and that will get 'em there for sure.  But your brand is what keeps them coming back. Wanna know what it is, how to figure yours out, and how to use it to guide your marketing? Then, this is the episode for you!  In this previously taped Instagram Live mini-masterclass, I walk you through the definition of brand (hint: it's more than a logo and pretty colors), why it's worth the work of defining your business's brand, why your brand is the foundation of every aspect of your marketing, and the specific exercises you can walk through today to nail yours down.  This episode is FULL of good stuff! (And yes, I'm slightly obsessed with all-things-brand.) ---------------------- Are you subscribed to my email newsletter? Join me! Newsletter signup  Need some marketing help for your small or mid-sized business? Book a call with me! I'm not posting right now, but I DO have content on Instagram & I am paying attention to DMs. Gebhard Strategy Instagram  And, you can find me on LinkedIn at Beth's LinkedIn