The Sassy Strategist: Build Your Business, Grow Your Profits, and Discover How To Succeed As A Small Business Entrepreneur

On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson interviews Mallika Malhotra, the Brand CEO, as she unpacks the crucial elements of brand strategy for entrepreneurs navigating crowded marketplaces. Delving into the challenges of standing out and gaining traction, Malika shares her expertise in helping experienced entrepreneurs define their power niche, craft impactful messaging, and enhance visibility to become industry go-tos.  Mallika emphasizes the distinction between brand and marketing strategies, stressing the significance of brand essence before communication tactics. With a focus on niching, Malika advocates for specialization as a powerful tool to attract ideal clients, debunking fears around missed opportunities and highlighting the transformative potential of honing in on a specific audience, skill set, problem, or solution.   KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE   Strategic Foundation: Prioritize defining your brand's essence, values, and differentiation before diving into marketing tactics for maximum impact. Niche Amplification: Embrace specialization to become the go-to expert, amplifying your brand's visibility and appeal within a specific audience or problem domain. Messaging Precision: Clarity and specificity in brand messaging create resonance and memorability, distinguishing you in crowded marketplaces. Quality Over Quantity: Focusing on a niche allows for deeper impact and growth potential, enabling scalable opportunities while fostering trust and recognition. Overcoming Fear of Missing Out: Reframe the fear of missing out on diverse opportunities by recognizing the power and impact of serving a specific audience with specialized expertise.     ABOUT THE GUEST   Mallika Malhotra, The Brand CEO, is an award-winning brand strategist, mentor, and speaker. After years of working in corporate advertising on renowned brands like L'Oreal and Oil of Olay, Mallika now empowers women entrepreneurs to get clear on their brand message, define their power niche and become sought-after experts. Her friends and clients call her the brand energizer because she encourages stepping out of comfort zones, taking action, and implementing ideas. When not building brands, Mallika is sipping coffee or red wine, reading a stack of books and dreaming of global adventures. She lives in beautiful coastal Maine with her husband, three sons and their mini Bernedoodle, Jax. To learn more about working with Mallika or to invite her to speak at your event or podcast, visit www.mallikamalhotra.co   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a small business strategist, consultant, accountant, and lifelong entrepreneur with a unique background and experience in a wide variety of industries.  Kim's the author of the Amazon best-selling book Passion to Profits: Your Guide to Building a Successful Business You Love and host of the long-running Sassy Strategist podcast where she delivers practical strategies to help you manage and grow your business.  Kim works with small business owners to help increase revenue, cash flow, and profitability to help them achieve their goals for growth.  Her passion is in helping those who are building more than just a business; they're crafting a life rich in experiences, skill, and personal and professional fulfillment. When not working, Kim can be found going for a hike or run, watching Jeopardy, solving math problems for fun, or reading about her latest topic of interest while enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to music.  

In the initial stages of launching a service-based business, it's common to start with lower rates to attract clients and gain experience. Many entrepreneurs begin by charging hourly, ensuring they are compensated for their time. However, as expertise grows, sticking to hourly rates can hinder long-term profitability. In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson explores three key pricing models: monthly retainers, project-based pricing, and packaged services. Kim discusses the pros and cons of each, emphasizing the importance of transitioning away from hourly rates to build sustainable success. The episode delves into practical examples and strategies for implementing these models, providing valuable insights for businesses seeking to optimize their pricing structures.   KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE   Begin with lower hourly rates to attract clients and gain experience. Relying solely on hourly rates can devalue expertise over time. Monthly Retainers offer stability and easier budgeting for service providers. Project-based pricing is ideal for one-time projects and helps to prevent miscommunication around expectations between you and your clients. Packaged Services offers different service levels for various budgets without compromising value. Flexible packages and tiers can help you maintain profitability and widen your clientele. Combining pricing models bridges revenue gaps without losing income.     ABOUT KIM DAWSON   Kim Dawson is a small business strategist, consultant, accountant, and lifelong entrepreneur with a unique background and experience in a wide variety of industries.  Kim's the author of the Amazon best-selling book Passion to Profits: Your Guide to Building a Successful Business You Love and host of the long-running Sassy Strategist podcast where she delivers practical strategies to help you manage and grow your business.  Kim works with small business owners to help increase revenue, cash flow, and profitability to help them achieve their goals for growth.  Her passion is in helping those who are building more than just a business; they're crafting a life rich in experiences, skill, and personal and professional fulfillment. When not working, Kim can be found hiking in the woods, going for a run, watching Jeopardy, solving math problems for fun, or reading about her latest topic of interest while enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to music.  If you're ready to have a business that supports the lifestyle you desire, book a call with Kim today at https://kdawsonco.com/. 

Unlocking the Power of Curiosity and Authenticity: Kim Dawson's Journey to a Purpose-Driven Business, Hosted by Emily Aborn   In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson swaps roles with her friend and fellow podcaster, Emily Aborn, who hosts two podcasts - She Built This and Content with Character. Emily interviews Kim about her personal journey, which starts with her first business at the age of seven, and how it led her to where she is today. Kim shares some fun facts about herself and reveals how her curiosity, honesty, and passion for helping others have been constant values throughout her life. Kim's story emphasizes the importance of being true to yourself and your values, and not being afraid to reinvent yourself along the way. She also shares her belief in the power of curiosity and continuous learning in both life and business. This episode provides valuable insights and inspiration for anyone who wants to build a business that aligns with their passion and purpose and makes a positive impact on their life and others.    KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE Kim Dawson's personal journey, starting with her first business at the age of seven and how it led her to where she is today. The importance of being true to yourself and your values, not being afraid to reinvent yourself, and the power of curiosity and continuous learning in life and business. The episode provides valuable insights and inspiration for building a business that aligns with passion and purpose and makes a positive impact on one's life and others.   ABOUT THE GUEST HOST Emily Aborn is a Content Copywriter, Speaker, and Podcast Host of Content with Character and She Built This. She lives in Temple, NH with her husband, Jason, and their snuggle-loving dog, Clyde. She enjoys hiking, reading, being a Jeopardy contestant from her couch, and writing.   ABOUT KIM DAWSON Kim Dawson is a small business strategist, consultant, accountant, and lifelong entrepreneur with a unique background and experience in a wide variety of industries.  Kim's the author of the Amazon best-selling book Passion to Profits: Your Guide to Building a Successful Business You Love and host of the long-running Sassy Strategist podcast where she delivers practical strategies to help you manage and grow your business.  Kim works with small business owners to help increase revenue, cash flow, and profitability to help them achieve their goals for growth.  Her passion is in helping those who are building more than just a business; they're building a life filled with experiences, craftsmanship, and fulfillment personally and professionally.  When not working, Kim can be found on an adventure, hiking in the woods, trying out a new recipe, or reading about her latest topic of interest while enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to music.  If you're ready to have a business that supports the lifestyle you desire, book a call with Kim today at https://kdawsonco.com/. 

Have you been feeling stuck, unmotivated, or simply “meh” about your business lately? Does it feel like you're in a holding pattern waiting for something to change? Are you telling yourself that eventually things will start to happen for you, and at that point you'll finally be ready to move forward? Then don't miss this episode of The Sassy Strategist podcast. Host Kim Dawson shares a personal story of how she found inspiration where she least expected it, and how it made her realize that waiting for change just keeps you stuck where you are.  She asks the tough questions to help you realize that the only thing standing in the way of you getting what you want is waiting for it. Kim also shares specific strategies you can use to go from feeling uninspired to focused and ready for action.    KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE You already have everything you need to inspire change in your business (and your life!) Waiting for change can keep you stuck, bored, and feeling frustrated Ask yourself what you truly want, then make a list of actions you can take to make it happen You don't need to do everything on your list, start with one item and go from there Action creates inspiration ABOUT THE HOST Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and CFO Advisor for small business owners. She works with clients to increase profitability, grow their team, and manage their business more effectively, with less stress and more confidence and joy. Kim has helped her clients double - and sometimes triple - their revenue, all while doing more of what they enjoy, and gaining their free time back.  If you're ready to have a profitable business that brings you the lifestyle you desire, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

There's a misconception out there that scaling is the only way to increase revenue, increase profit, have more time, and run your business more efficiently. However, many solopreneurs and small business owners don't really want to scale. In fact, what many call scaling, isn't really scaling at all! In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, host Kim Dawson dispels the myths around scaling, discussing the difference between scaling and other forms of growth. Kim shares strategies for achieving your goals without scaling, and without continuously growing your team. If you're looking to stay small, but also increase revenue and profit, while getting your time back, this episode is for you.  KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE You can increase revenue and profit without scaling your business Scaling is a form of growth, but you can grow your business without scaling. When you build your team, profit may decrease in the beginning, but having a plan can help reduce the impact When you add to your team, pricing needs to be re-evaluated to avoid a net loss Systems may need to change as you grow your team ABOUT THE HOST Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and fractional CFO for solopreneurs and small business owners. She works with clients to increase profitability, improve cash flow, and manage their business more effectively, with less stress and more confidence and joy. Kim has helped her clients double - and sometimes triple - their revenue, all while doing more of what they enjoy, and gaining their free time back.  If you're ready to have a profitable business that brings you the lifestyle you desire, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/. 

You love being a small business owner and you started your business because you wanted to make a living doing something you love. But there is pressure coming from all around you telling you to “grow and scale” - whether it's creating passive revenue streams, hiring employees, growing your team, or even building to sell. The message you're told is that it's the only way to be successful. But it isn't. In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, host Kim Dawson shares her thoughts on finding joy and profitability as a small business owner. Kim also discusses why trying to be a CEO rather than the service provider may actually be hurting your business. Listen in to hear Kim's personal story of how she realized that staying small was the best fit for her, and her clients.    KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE You can be financially successful without growing your team or scaling Focusing on your services rather than being a CEO may be the best fit for you and your clients Small businesses typically have small budgets - scaling may cause you to lose clients who can no longer afford your services You can do something that you love and that you're passionate about and make a good living at it ABOUT THE HOST Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist, accountant, and fractional CFO for solopreneurs and small business owners. She works with clients to help them increase profitability, improve cash flow, and manage their business more effectively, with less stress and more confidence and joy. Kim has helped her clients double - and sometimes triple - their revenue, all while doing more of what they love, and gaining their free time back.  If you're ready to have a profitable business that brings you the lifestyle you desire, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.   

When selling to potential clients remember one thing - they want to know that you can provide what they need, do it within their budget, and if they hire you they'll get results. To successfully sell your services, you need to be able to communicate these results at rates that align with the value of these results. Pricing too high or too low can send the message that they won't get the results they want.    In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson shares strategies for selling from the client's perspective; speaking to what you can do for them, the results you bring, and the investment for getting those results. Kim discusses the importance of knowing your market, aligning with their values, and seeing how results can be more than just business results, but can help them personally as well.      KEY POINTS   * Pricing your services will be different depending on the size of your business, and the best pricing supports both your business needs and the needs of the client.    * You don't want to overvalue or undervalue your services in regards to pricing.  Pricing too high or too low can deter your ideal clients - they ‘ll think they won't get the results they want.   * Communicate with your potential client why your services are valued at the rate you charge - what are the results the client can expect from hiring you.   * The results of working with you might include business results, such as increased clients, visibility in a new market, or more efficient systems, but there may also be personal results such as less stress, better time management, or more fulfillment from their work.    * Pricing can vary greatly from one service provider to the next - your goal is to align your pricing with the needs of the market you work with and the value of the results you provide.   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.  If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Not every business owner enjoys marketing, but it's necessary if you want to grow your business. However, you can make marketing work for you, even make it enjoyable, if you adopt a different approach. Marketing can feel overwhelming if you think you need to implement every marketing strategy and be everywhere all the time. There are several options and opportunities, but you can choose what aligns with you and your business.   In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson interviews Kristi Mitchell, Marketing Strategist, who shares insight on how to create a custom marketing strategy that works for you and your goals. She talks about using pull marketing rather than push marketing strategy, especially as it relates to social media. Kristi also shares inspiration for creating lead magnets, overlooked marketing strategies that generate good ROI, and why it's so important to have an overall marketing strategy before hiring specialists.    KEY POINTS   * Pull marketing may be more effective than push marketing to engage your audience, and may align better with your personal brand.   * There are several strategies to choose from when it comes to marketing your business, you don't need to implement them all.    * Social media marketing may be more effective when you focus on 1-2 platforms.   * Many business owners focus their attention on the attraction stage of the marketing process, while not focusing enough on the conversion stage.    * Hire a strategist before hiring a specialist. A strategist can create the overall plan that a specialist can then implement.   ABOUT THE GUEST   Kristi Mitchell is a Marketing Strategist. She specializes in working with established business owners who have relied on referrals and word-of-mouth to get to where they are today. They know in order to take their business to the next level, they need to finally get strategic about their marketing efforts. Kristi brings an MBA, over ten years of corporate marketing experience, and a drive for continual learning to the work she does with her clients.    Go to https://www.kristimitchell.com/ for more information or to download her free social media calendar template.  ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.  If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Even the most experienced business owner can get nervous before a sales call. We might be worried about whether or not we make the sale, and if we don't, how it will affect our revenue. Maybe you wish you didn't have to worry about sales or marketing, and you think you'd be happier if you could just do what you love to do in your business. In fact, you'd rather not spend any time thinking about sales funnels, sales journeys, or sales scripts. But what if sales could be different?   On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson presents a new approach to sales - rather than worrying about following sales formulas, or even whether or not you get hired, what if you ask yourself if the client is the right fit for YOU!    KEY POINTS   * You don't need a sales script. * The purpose of a sales call isn't to win at selling, it's to find out if you have the tools, resources, and skills to help someone, and if working together makes sense for both of you. * Sales can be based on honesty, the desire to help, and a willingness to build a meaningful connection.  * Before agreeing to work with someone, check to see if your values align. * Having a non-scripted, relaxed approach to sales can lead to better results. ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

You've heard about SEO and how it can really drive traffic to your website, but you keep putting it off. SEO can seem overwhelming, overly technical, and can feel like there is too much to learn. However, SEO can actually be easy to learn and implement in your business. SEO may also be the most effective marketing tool in your toolbox, and one you can do yourself with little to no cost.  In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson interviews Karen Callahan, SEO Strategist, Trainer, and WordPress Developer, who shares her tips and strategies for getting found on search engines like Google. Kim and Karen discuss blog writing and content creation for maximum SEO, the do's and don'ts of guest blogging, and whether or not it matters which website platform you choose (Squarespace, Wix, Wordpress, etc.). They geek out over SEO and you won't believe what you learn.   KEY POINTS   * Guest posting is for creating awareness, not SEO.   * You can boost SEO on your website by writing on a few topics from multiple perspectives.   * SEO tools and plugins don't do SEO for you! They simply evaluate and make recommendations.   * The copy you put “above the fold” on your website should be written with SEO in mind.   * It may be better to drive traffic to web pages other than your home page.   ABOUT THE GUEST   Karen Callahan, MSCIS, SEO Strategist and Trainer, WordPress Developer, Speaker, Founder of Adventures Online and Karen-Callahan.com   Karen Callahan is an SEO Strategist and Trainer, WordPress Developer, and Speaker with nearly 25 years' experience developing websites and 15 years applying SEO to websites. A fierce advocate for do-it-yourselfers, Karen has trained many clients on how to add SEO to their own websites. She has flipped the script on SEO and developed a unique system; a words-based SEO system (not algorithm-based) that is ideal for non-tech professionals. She focuses on the “words” because words are what the algorithm and statistics are measuring!   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.  If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Are you spending copious amounts of time and energy on social media marketing and not getting the results you want? Is the pressure to be active on social media and keep up with the latest social media trends making you feel exhausted and frustrated? Have you considered breaking up with social media but fear your business won't survive? Do you wish there were a better way to use social media that would help you grow your business without taking up all your time?   On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson addresses the controversial question, “is social media really worth it?” Kim shares her personal experience using social media as a marketing tool, including the struggles she's experienced, and her honest critique of whether or not social media really generates ROI in your business. She also highlights the benefits of social media, why you may want to stay, and how you can make it work for you and your business.    KEY POINTS   * Social media marketing is one of many marketing tools. * Don't let the pressure to fit in or follow trends dictate how you market your business - do what works for you. * You can use social media as a way to help your business, without letting it consume you.  * If social media marketing is too energy-draining or time consuming, hire others to help you. * Invest your time and energy into what generates the most ROI in your business - and it may not be social media.  ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Do you experience FOMO when you hear your fellow entrepreneurs talking about the latest tools they use, like ClickUp, Monday, or Asana, and wonder why you haven't used these tools yet? Are you feeling disorganized in your business because you don't have systems and processes in place and documented? Do you keep hearing that running your business would be so much easier if you set up automations? In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson interviews Business Efficiency Expert, Yvonne Heimann, where the two discuss what it means to set up systems in your business, and why digitizing them isn't a requirement for them to be effective. Yvonne talks about the importance of knowing what works for you, and what doesn't, using your own values and priorities as a guide to creating systems rather than what everyone else is doing. She shares her insight around using tools in your business, and why tools won't solve your problems. Her philosophy - first, decide what you want, then use technology to help you make it happen.    KEY POINTS   * You already have systems in place - regardless of whether or not you've documented them. * First, create the systems, then digitize them. Tools won't do this for you. * Your values and priorities will guide how you set up your systems. * Follow your own path - don't worry about what works for others. * Your clients don't care about the details of your process - they care about the client experience and getting the results they want.   ABOUT THE GUEST   Yvonne Heimann is the CEO & founder of AskYvi.com and the leading ClickUp evangelist, as well as a passionate Business Efficiency & Scalability Consultant, Mindset Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, & Speaker. Using her knowledge of over 15 years running multiple businesses, she helps her clients organize, strengthen, and streamline their businesses into profitability and success. Her work is driven by a vision of a world where digital entrepreneurs not only make a living doing what they are passionate about but thrive and wear their passions as badges of honor. To learn more about Yvi go to https://askyvi.com/. To access the SOAR framework resource mentioned in the episode go to https://askyvi.com/soar/.    ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.  If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.  

Have you ever had the opportunity to pitch a proposal to a client bigger than any other client you've ever had? A project that is so full of potential you can't imagine losing this opportunity, but fear you will? If so, you've undoubtedly been nervous about what to include in the proposal, and how much to charge. You don't want to charge too little, because it may be a lot of work, but you don't want to charge too much and price yourself out of the running.  On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson discusses best practices for pitching your biggest proposal yet. She talks about common fears and how to overcome them, and how to find the confidence to pitch what YOU need in order to have a thriving business. Kim shares negotiating strategies that will benefit both you and the potential client, and finding the courage to walk away if it isn't a good fit.    KEY POINTS   Price your proposals based on what it will cost you to take on the project, not what you assume the customer thinks your work is worth. You're the expert - Know what you need to charge, don't expect them to tell you. Common fears are appearing greedy, overpricing your services, fear of future impact on your business, and lost opportunity - address these fears by having standard pricing based on the actual costs of running your business.  You can negotiate proposals that stay within their budget without discounting your services.  Avoid resentment - walk away if it isn't a good fit.  ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Do you find yourself struggling with decisions because you feel conflict between what you want (or think you want) and what you're told you should want? Do you want to forge your own path in business, and in life, but not sure how to do it, or where to start? Then don't miss this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast where host Kim Dawson interviews Jamie Chapman, a Creative Consultant in business and life, who supports women running small to medium-sized businesses. Jamie shares new and interesting perspectives on goal setting, getting clear on what you really want, and how being open to possibilities can move your business, and life, forward. Jamie and I talk about how to embrace uncertainty, and let go of rigid rules and what you think you need. We also discuss why plans typically don't work the way you think they should and present the question - do you even need a plan?   KEY POINTS -Moving away from black and white thinking or the need to fit into a box.  -Getting clear on what you really want in your life and business, and running your business in a way that supports it.  -Considering an alternative perspective to goal setting - don't think of it as setting a goal, think of it as deciding on your destination.  -Taking risks in your business, and knowing when it may be the right time to invest in your business. -How can consultants, coaches and/or strategists help you, and what are the similarities and differences between them.  -How to change the narrative and embrace possibilities.    ABOUT THE GUEST   Jamie Chapman, the owner of Chickbook Creative, is a Creative Consultant in business and life, supporting women who run small to medium-sized businesses. She brings 25 years of experience in systems, processes, accountability, leadership, and project management. Jamie has a multifaceted approach to problem-solving with extensive knowledge in executive functioning, habit formation, and understanding the mind of a creative entrepreneur.   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.  If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Does creating consistent and interesting content feel too time-consuming? Have you considered hiring a content writer, but fear they won't be able to accurately capture your brand or your voice? Do you wonder about content strategy and how you can build a genuine connection with your audience? Then don't miss this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast where host Kim Dawson interviews Emily Aborn, a Content Writer for Creative Entrepreneurs, as well as the Founder of She Built This®, a community for women entrepreneurs.    Emily debunks a few myths about content creation, sharing her strategies for creating content that isn't time consuming, and finding a content writer who can successfully communicate your personal brand, message, and voice. Emily discusses tips for sharing content across multiple platforms, how to speak to your ideal client, and why sharing content matters for both growing your business and making an impact.    KEY POINTS   A good content writer can capture your brand and voice Content strategy can help you build connections with your audience Consistency matters more than how many platforms you use Content builds the bridge between you and your ideal client Write content as if you're speaking to only one person to build connection   ABOUT THE GUEST   Emily Aborn is a Content Writer and founder/leader of She Built This.   She gets ideas out of her client's brains and onto the page by creating compelling content and copy that helps women entrepreneurs to reach their dreams AND their dream clients.   She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Clyde. She enjoys hiking, reading, all the word and nerdy brain games she can get her hands on, and writing.   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

If you're not a fan of sales or selling, it might be because you've been taught traditional sales strategies such as pre-planned scripts, sales templates, or high pressure tactics. But the most effective sales strategies are the ones that break tradition, and focus on getting to know people, and finding ways to help them. In fact, having only one strategy really matters - giving someone space to share what they need, and have an honest conversation around whether or not you're the right person to help.    On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson presents a modern approach to sales, which includes focusing on the needs of your potential clients, seeing sales as an opportunity to help rather than sell your services, and being open-minded to the outcome, with no pressure to “close the deal.” Kim shares why you can't really plan for a sales call, how to assess if it's a good fit, and how to move past worry and fear about revenue when it isn't a good fit.    ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

With so much of our business being online, does it feel like the amount of competition you have is endless? Do you struggle to feel seen and heard, and want to know how you can stand out so your audience can find you, without having to follow social media trends or copy everyone else? Do you want to create a unique brand, but unsure how to overcome the feeling of being discouraged by all the competition? On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson shares her number one strategy for dealing with a highly competitive industry, including sharing her own experience with it. Kim discusses what you need to build a unique personal brand, why it's much easier than you may think, and how discovering who you are, and what your business and brand is really all about, can lead to feeling like you have no competition at all.   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Do you ever feel like you're working all of the time, but not making progress? Is the *work* you're doing more thinking and less action? Do you struggle to make decisions in your business because you fear making mistakes? Overthinking, or as some call it “Analysis Paralysis” affects many of us, especially entrepreneurs. We get stuck in thinking mode, preventing us from moving into action mode.  On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson discusses her own personal struggles with overthinking, over-analysis, and fear of making mistakes. She shares how she works to overcome these, and the steps to take to find clarity when making decisions, and easily transition from overthinking into taking action and moving forward.    ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/consultation.  

Host Kim Dawson shares why she decided NOT to end the Sassy Strategist Podcast, and gets honest about the struggles we face as entrepreneurs to make decisions.  Kim talks about her own struggle with her brand name, and why naming anything in our business feels so important (and why we're so afraid to make a mistake!). Kim also discusses her plans for moving the show forward, including the kind of interviews and content she hopes to bring to the listeners, and why it matters.    ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/consultation.

Host Kim Dawson gets personal and shares the “why” behind her work, and what she is planning for the next stage of her own entrepreneurial journey. Discussing the importance of entrepreneurship as a means to creating a meaningful and purposeful life, Kim shares exciting news, including how she will continue her mission of bringing you, the small business owner, the tools you need to connect your creativity and passion to building a business that can support the lifestyle you desire.On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson shares why she started the podcast in 2015, why she (almost) decided to end the show, and what she plans to create next.   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.    If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/consultation.

Making decisions around raising your rates can be tough. We often worry about the amount we should charge for our services and how a price increase will affect our ability to retain and attract clients, but choosing the right time to increase our rates is equally important.  On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson discusses five signs to look for in your business that will tell you it's time to consider raising your rates, including why each one of them is important. Kim also shares insight on why re-evaluating your prices on a consistent basis is critical for building a sustainable business.

If you are a solopreneur or small business owner, you have probably heard of niching down and the importance of it for growing your business. However, you probably also have concerns about niching, and wonder if it is right for you.   On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson discusses different options for niching down in your business, including the pros and cons of a market niche and a service niche. Kim also shares insight on how to address the fears around defining a niche, and how you can use niching to implement better marketing strategies as well as attracting your ideal clients.   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is the founder of K.Dawson Company, a consulting firm that provides business strategy and coaching, management accounting, and CFO advisory services for solopreneurs and small business owners who are looking to increase revenue, improve operations, build their team, or expand into new markets and niches. Kim is the author of Passion to Profits: Your Guide To Building a Successful Business You Love, and is the host of The Sassy Strategist Podcast. To learn more, visit kdawsonco.com.

When you're a solopreneur or small business owner, especially working in the service industry, your business is just as much about connecting with your clients as it is the service you provide. Our work can feel personal, and we often prefer to grow our businesses in a way that aligns with our values, our interests, and what feels right to us.    On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, I am interviewing Enneagram-Informed Therapist and Coach, Christina Granahan LICSW, PCC, who shares insight and strategies we can use to grow our businesses in a way that aligns with our personality, and resonates with our audience. We discuss topics such as decision making and risk tolerance, as well as how we show up in the world, including our strategies around content creation, networking, and marketing.

While talking about taxes isn't the most glamorous topic of conversation, it's a necessary one for all of us, especially if you own your own business. On this episode of The Sassy Strategist Podcast, listen in to Ronica Brown, CPA, advisor and tax strategist and I as we attempt to make “tax talk” interesting, and dare I say, fun. Well, at the very least, we share helpful tips for how to better understand tax strategy, and how to use it to improve your financial situation, and maximize profit in your business.   ABOUT THE GUEST   Ronica Brown, CPA is a tax professional with over 12 years of tax planning and tax preparation experience. She has worked with organizations of various sizes ranging from SMEs to large corporations. Her aim is to help entrepreneurs rethink their tax strategies by focusing on strategic tax planning. That's the only way to significantly reduce how much they pay in taxes. She has worked with her team to help clients reduce their tax bills by 30% or more. These tax savings have empowered them to grow their businesses, invest, and develop exit strategies.  However, tax planning isn't the only aspect of Ronica's life. She's a wife and mother who is passionate about gardening and cooking. In fact, she has a wide variety of plants in her backyard.   

For the first time on the show, host Kim Dawson shares her own personal journey of building her business, which she nearly quit several times. Kim shares the mistakes she made during the first few years, including spending too much time and energy working on tasks that didn't bring results, without having a plan that truly aligned with her goals and values.    In this episode of The Sassy Strategist Podcast, Kim asks the important questions - “Is what you're doing in your business what you really need? Is it bringing you what you really want? Are you happy with what you're doing, with your clients, with the money you're making? And most importantly, are you too focused on the future and not truly enjoying the present?”    Kim shares her insight and tips on how to step back, re-evaluate, and create a plan that aligns with your goals, and brings you more happiness (and success!) right now.    “I realized I didn't have to work so hard to get what I needed. I just needed to have a better plan.” - Kim Dawson   KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE Run your business (and your life!) today as if you're already successful. Success isn't just measured by number of clients, money earned per year, or whether or not “you've made it” - success is determined by having a plan and making progress toward implementing it. Overworking yourself will not only lead to burnout, it can also lead to questioning your ability to be successful, and like a negative cycle, that lack of confidence can cause you to quit too soon. Building a successful business becomes much easier, and more enjoyable, when you take a step back and create a plan that aligns with your goals and values. You might never feel true safety and security in your business (most entrepreneurs ever do!), so don't use it as an excuse to put everything else in your life on hold until you get it. ABOUT THE HOST Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability.  If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/consultation.

Julia received the call of her cancer diagnosis at 5pm on Friday, March 13, 2020, just as businesses throughout the country began shutting down from the COVID-19 pandemic. Julia Becker Collins, COO of Vision Advertising, was met with the challenge of dealing with a life changing medical diagnosis, with offices closing and the world in chaos, all while continuing to run a company where staff and clients were depending on her to navigate the way. In this special episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, Julia shares her story of how she was able to manage her diagnosis and treatment while also managing her company staff, now all working remotely, dealing with clients, and implementing new operations as a company due to COVID-19, all while reminding herself that from now on, her health needed to be top priority.   KEY POINTS Having a strong support system in place can be extremely helpful to you during a crisis. Set boundaries with staff and clients regarding your time - this includes letting them know you may not be available at certain times. Delegating and trusting others to get things done is critical to success when you need to step away from your business. Before saying “yes” to a request, first ask yourself, “how does this serve me?” If the answer isn't compelling enough to say “yes”, then say “NO.” You can't really be good at running a business if you're not living a fulfilling life outside of your business.     ABOUT THE GUEST   Julia has more than 16 years experience in marketing and business. She is the Chief Operating Officer of Vision Advertising and leads all aspects of the company, from managing day-today operations to talking marketing and business strategy with clients. Julia's the Founding President (emeritus) & Co-Founder of the MetroWest Women's Network, a group of more than 3,500 ambitious women that work together to meet their goals. Julia regularly speaks at business events, seminars, training sessions, and more. Julia holds an MPA from Framingham State University & a BA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was awarded the Distinguished Alum Award at UMass Amherst in 2016. In 2019, she won the 40 Under 40 Award from the Worcester Business Journal.   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to scale to the next level to increase their bottom line. With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability. After working with Kim, her clients end up doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling their revenue, all while gaining their free time back.⠀

Bev Feldman is a marketing technology consultant at Your Personal Tech Fairy and helps coaches & solopreneurs create and maintain email automations that can build trust and nurture relationships with subscribers. Bev takes care of the tech side of email marketing so that you can focus more on the aspects of your business that bring you joy.   On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, Bev and I discuss why email marketing is an effective tool for creating better connections with your audience, engaging with your audience, and generating sales both now and in the future. We also discuss three top reasons why consistency matters, why using filters and tags are so important, and how to overcome your fears of email marketing. 

As your clientele and business both grow, you may find that the rates you once charged for your services, no longer sustain you, or your business. Perhaps you are ready to hire help, but you're unsure how you can afford it, or your experience level means it's time to start increasing your rates, but you're not sure how to go about doing so.   In this episode of The Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson discusses the importance of re-evaluating your pricing at each stage of business growth, and how pricing impacts all other aspects of your business (and how having the wrong prices can negatively affect your business and your future growth!). Kim also shares tips on how to identify the right time to increase your rates, and how to do so effectively and with desired results.   

Robyn White is is the owner and founder of RDW Design Studio, a boutique website design studio specializing in strategic websites for home professionals and creative service providers. Through her supportive, streamlined, and stress-free design process, Robyn creates websites that are not just beautiful, but also prioritize attracting your ideal clientele. On this episode of the podcast, Robyn and I discuss the importance of your website (which she says is your #1 marketing tool!), and how to ensure your website is developed, designed, and maintained in a way that best serves you and your business.  We also discuss the benefits of using a WordPress platform, what to expect when hiring someone else to develop, design or maintain your website, how to maximize engagement on your site, why having an SSL certificate is a must, and the pros/cons of using an “all-in-one” platform. 

Christina Frei is a branding and marketing specialist and consultant for smart business owners who are trusted advisors to their clients. She helps them identify what she calls their “one voice, one strategy”, and brings sanity and clarity to their marketing life.  On this episode of the podcast, Christina and I talk about finding your “innate marketing genius.” Learn how to discover your marketing archetype, how this leads to your unique marketing strategy, and how to shift your marketing efforts to be more intuitive and more effective! We also discuss how to stop following marketing trends and just focus on what will work for you (and how to figure out what that is!). As an added bonus, we discuss how to make marketing more comfortable, and even more fun, so you can enjoy the marketing aspect of running your business. 

When you first launched your business, you were probably taking clients from anywhere you could get them. But overtime, you may have created a market and a niche and not even known that you created it. As your interests, experience, and knowledge have grown, your ideal client may be very different from who you originally thought you'd be serving in your business.  In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, host Kim Dawson discusses how to identify your ideal client, and why it's so important for improving time management, enjoying your work more, and growing your revenue. Kim also shares pricing strategies to implement as your market changes.   

Growing a business from solopreneur to CEO comes with many changes, challenges, and opportunities to grow. Beth Blaney started her business as a freelance bookkeeper and has so far built her company to a team of seven, and is still growing.   In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, Beth shares her story of how she built her business, along with insight on how you can grow your own business from one to many. We cover everything from finding the best people for your team to creating a niche, along with not fearing change as you seek to learn and grow.

Many business owners have considered writing a book to share their expertise, build credibility, or grow their business. However, the process of writing and publishing a book brings about many questions - should you self-publish or go the traditional route, who do you need on your team, and how will you get your book out into the world? This week's guest is Jodi Brandon, a book editor, publishing partner and coach with 20 years experience in the publishing industry. Jodi shares insight into the process of creating a book from idea to market as we discuss the details of self-publishing, and what you need to be successful at writing, publishing, and marketing your first book.     “The launch doesn't make or break a book - you can continue to market and sell for the long-haul. It's a marathon not a sprint.” - Jodi Brandon   KEY POINTS   If you're writing a book to build credibility and business opportunities, self-publishing may be the route to take. If you're looking to make a living as a writer, consider traditional publishing instead. Whether you self-publish or get a traditional publisher you will be responsible for marketing your book.  When it comes to pricing your book, stay away from trends. Compare your book to similar books and let that guide your pricing decisions. The process of creating a book can be broken down into three stages; Write, Publish, and Market. Each stage is a detailed process in and of itself. Getting the support you need is key to successfully creating and launching a book, and hiring a book coach can help. If you self-publish, you'll need a book designer (not a graphic designer), an editor, a typesetter, and perhaps an indexer (if applicable) or a publicist.   ABOUT THE GUEST   Jodi Brandon has more than 20 years' experience in book publishing. After many years working in traditional publishing (in-house at a Big Four, a book packager, and a niche publisher), Jodi and her husband relocated from New York to Philadelphia and she launched her freelance editing business. Today Jodi works primarily as a book editor and writing/publishing coach for creative entrepreneurs, bloggers, small business owners, and solopreneurs who want to grow their business with a book.

At a certain point in your business, you may find that your business can no longer sustain itself with just you on the team. You need to increase your revenue, but you're working long hours trying to get all of your client work done, and run your business. While you haven't met your revenue goals just yet, you also don't have the time or capacity to take on new clients. You avoid marketing your business, and the quality of your work begins to suffer. You may also be feeling like you don't enjoy your work the way you once did, and you want to return to feeling good about your business.    In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, host Kim Dawson discusses the signs that tell you it's finally time to hire employees, and why doing so is the only way to grow your business. Kim also shares three specific ways hiring employees helps you meet your revenue goals.    KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE   Employees are an investment in your business, which isn't the same as spending Your business can only go so far with just you - building a team is crucial to growth Hiring others gives you more time to focus on increasing sales and the number of clients you work with, as well as the opportunity to expand your services Delegating administrative work to others helps you increase the amount of billable time you have available, therefore increasing your ability to bring in more revenue   ABOUT THE HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to scale to the next level to increase their bottom line. With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability. After working with Kim, her clients end up doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling their revenue, all while gaining their free time back.   If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a consultation call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/consultation.

Like many small business owners, Abby started her business on the side, working as a copywriter and content creator, while working full-time as a school teacher. She now runs a successful business with employees of her own. On this episode of the podcast, Abby and I talk about taking your business through many different stages of growth, including updating, or even changing your services as your expertise and your market grow, learning to let go as we begin to hire contractors and employees, and the many mistakes we make along the way (Abby confesses to going through several hires early on before realizing she wasn't prepared to hire effectively just yet!).  We also discuss the pros and cons of hiring contractors vs. employees, and when it's time to transition from the former to the latter. As an added bonus, we also discuss specifically hiring a content strategist for your business as one of several people you may want to add to your contractor team, and why doing so can really fuel your business forward. “If you've been in business for 5-6 years, going the DIY route or educating yourself on [content creation] is not what you need. You need to delegate this work out at this point in your business.” - Abby Herman   KEY POINTS   Marketing is critical, even when business is good - “Stopping when you're full creates hills and valleys in your income” As a CEO, your job is to run your company, and it's not doing all the things in your business. Many business owners may start with independent contractors, but there is a limitation with hiring contractors, and you will need to eventually transition to hiring employees. Letting go as a business owner is hard - but understand you are building a relationship with someone when you hire them, and this takes time. Be patient with the process.   ABOUT THE GUEST   Abby Herman is a content strategist and coach for service-based business owners who want to gain visibility for their businesses with personalized content strategies and implementation. She specializes in idea generation and content strategy and delivery so her clients can keep on doing what they love in their businesses, making the marketing piece feel easy. Abby is the voice behind the Stories in Small Business podcast where she features guests and solo episodes to talk about business growth and mindset, content strategy and visibility. She hosts Content Mastery Lab, a growing membership program to help newer business owners DIY their content marketing, because she knows from experience that there's nothing more frustrating than not knowing where to start. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

You're at maximum capacity and ready to start hiring employees, but you're not sure how you're going to pay for it. You're stuck feeling overwhelmed doing everything yourself, but you're also overwhelmed thinking about having to go through the process of hiring. Who should you hire first? How much will they cost your business? Will you need to give up current profit to pay for their salary?  In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, host Kim Dawson shares some insight into what the hiring process can look like from a financial perspective, how hiring impacts profitability differently based on who you choose to hire first, and why hiring might be essential to growing your revenue.  Kim also shares three specific strategies to help you budget and pay for your first hire. Key Points to Ponder Hiring can help you increase profit margins and long-term profitability Initial profit margins vary based on who you hire first Hiring gives you time to increase the number of clients you work with, and helps you increase your sales Hiring can be a great way to scale your service-based business   About the HOST   Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to scale to the next level to increase their bottom line. With over 20 years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability. After working with Kim, her clients end up doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling their revenue, all while gaining their free time back. If you're ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a consultation call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/consultation.

Identifying what your ideal client values, and aligning this with your own business values, is probably the most important factor in helping your business move forward. What your clients value most will determine which services and/or products you offer, how you will market them, and what you will charge for them.  In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, Business Strategist and Host, Kim Dawson teaches you how to identify your clients' values, as well as your own, and use this information to guide you through the next stage of growing your business. If you've thought about launching a new revenue stream, expanding into a new market, or simply increasing revenue and profitability, then don't miss this episode! Host Bio: Kim Dawson is a lifelong entrepreneur with businesses spanning from co-founding a software company to owning/operating a fitness and wellness studio. With her background in both entrepreneurship and accounting, Kim evolved into a business strategist specializing in helping small business owners build profitable, and sustainable businesses. Kim is passionate about helping her clients understand the financial side of their business in order to make smart decisions, manage and grow their business successfully, and have a business that fits their lifestyle.  Her purpose is to help small business owners enjoy financial freedom, a flexible schedule, and a fulfilling, well-balanced life. Kim strives to help you create financial security from your business, along with more free time, more joy, and less stress.

Host, Kim Dawson discusses various ways to create sales incentives for prospective clients without offering discounted prices. Solopreneurs can often be tempted to discount their services in order to make the sale, but Kim gives several reasons why discounting can be bad for your business, and for your clients. Kim offers pricing strategies that can help you charge what you're worth, while also offering several options to appeal to your prospective client's budgeting needs. Kim also shares three specific sales incentives for increasing the value of your offer and making prospective clients more likely to hire you.

Jacq Fisch is a writer and intuitive writing coach, as well as the founder of Write Like a MOFO, a monthly membership program for writers and creative entrepreneurs. Jacq joins Kim to talk about how she went from corporate job to freelance copywriter to writing coach and membership community founder. The two discuss the process of launching, building, and maintaining a membership community, finding your community niche, the tech side of things, and the resources you need (and don't need) to get started.  GUEST BIO: Jacq Fisch is a writer and intuitive writing coach for creative business owners who want to sound human in their copy, so they can sell more and get more clients. She also gives writers the time, space, and a creative container to finally find time to work on their passion projects. Before launching her writing and coaching business, Jacq spent 13 years working in corporate communications and management consulting. She's collaborated with more than 200 clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, the US government, tech startups, life and business coaches, naturopaths, therapists, creatives, and more. Jacq is passionate about helping entrepreneurs clarify their message and simplify their writing, so they can drop the jargon and instead communicate authentically. Through her Write Like a MOFO community and one-on-one coaching, she's here to show you that simplicity is always a good idea, and writing can be unreasonably fun. Jacq lives in New Jersey, with her husband, two kids, a dog, a cat, no houseplants, and most of her sanity.  

If you're a solopreneur looking to scale your service-based business and build your team from the ground up, don't miss this episode of The Sassy Strategist Podcast! Host, Kim Dawson interviews Kim Dow, CEO/Owner, Publisher, and Creative Director for Sass Magazine and Sass Studios where Kim (Dow) shares her story of launching her graphic design business with no clients, to building not one, but three companies. Guest Bio: Kim Dow is an entrepreneur at heart. She has combined her creative spirit with her drive to empower women with her love of animals to start three award-winning businesses. Her flagship company is Sass Studios—a boutique branding and creative design studio that specializes in supporting and empowering women-owned businesses by helping them cultivate their visual “voice”.   Kim also launched Sass Magazine, a women's lifestyle and professional publication that celebrates real women. With both a regional printed magazine as well as a national online base, Sass Magazine serves up articles on a variety of topics including career, wellness, travel, style, beauty, home, (and more!). Additionally, Kim also launched EverydayDogMagazine.com, a lifestyle website for modern day dog owners and lovers.

Do you feel like the marketing strategies you're “supposed to do”, just don't feel right for you or your business? Do you wish marketing felt more natural, and even fun?      Then don't miss this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast where I interview Brit Kolo, Creator of The Marketing Personality Type Framework at MarketingPersonalities.com! Brit shares insight around how to implement marketing strategies that align with your Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator (MBTI) to help you figure out which strategies work best for you and your business - so you actually enjoy marketing and see results!     Brit also challenges the idea of focusing on your Ideal Client Avatar (ICA), and instead, focusing on what YOU bring to the table.    This episode will inspire you to think differently about marketing, don't miss it!!

We're all talking about scaling our businesses, adding revenue streams, and even adding passive income to our service-based businesses. However, service businesses by their nature are not designed to be scalable business models, so how do you overcome this obstacle and scale your business? In this episode of The Sassy Strategist Podcast, Kim shares insight into how to scale a service-based business, what scaling could look like for your business, and how to decide if scaling is the right choice for you. 

After taking a bit of a break from the show, Kim Dawson is back to hosting the Sassy Strategist Podcast.  In this 'welcome back' episode, Kim talks about what it means to her to be an entrepreneur, why she launched the show back in 2015, and her plans to continue bringing useful and meaningful content to solopreneurs to help you scale your business, increase profits, and build a business (and lifestyle!) you love.

Does this sound like you? You've got client information located in multiple documents and spreadsheets. You're sending PDFs through email and asking for handwritten signatures. You're losing business because you aren't following up with your leads. You know you need better software, systems, and automations in place, but you don't even know where to begin. In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, Tech Expert and Virtual CTO, Jaime Slutzky shares with us her strategies for simplifying your tech, and setting up systems and automations that work specifically for your business needs. If you've thought about launching an online course, creating a membership platform, or you simply want to automate lead generation and your sales process, then don't miss this episode!

Business owners are often talking about time management, but few think they have the time to implement a system that works, or even know where to begin. What we do know is we are stressed, have never-ending to-do lists, and have trouble focusing on what needs to get done in order to achieve our goals.  In this episode of The Sassy Strategist Podcast, Founder of Win The Hour, Win The Day, Kris Ward and I talk about how you can be more productive in your business, with less time and stress by learning how to use time blocking. We also discuss why To-Do lists don't work, and can actually keep you from achieving your goals. 

Do you work in a highly competitive industry and need to figure out how to stand out from your competition and have plenty of clients? Do you know how to be successful by sticking to your niche, and saying “no” to clients who are all wrong for you? In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, Moira Thompson & Natalie Pinney of Whim Events share with us how they created a niche, boosted sales, and became a leader in their industry. We talk about how taking risks and being honest about who you really want to work with, as well as differentiating yourself from the competition, helped them build a high-end, luxury wedding planning, floral and design company, winning Boston Magazine's “Best of Boston” for Best Wedding & Event Planner in 2018. Natalie & Moira share their amazing story of how they found each other and created a wildly successful business, along with what they've learned, and the mistakes they've made along the way. Listen in for more! About Whim Events Once upon a time, a dreamy floral designer met a spreadsheet-obsessed event planner. It was the perfect match. Together over a lot of coffee, crazy ideas and a mutual love for making people's dreams come true, Moira Thompson & Natalie Pinney founded Whim Events in 2011. Whim Events has since blossomed into one of Boston's leading full-service wedding planning, event design and floral studios. With over ten years of experience, we specialize in joyfully and thoughtfully guiding couples through every stage of the engagement. From scouting your ideal venue to curating well-crafted, intelligent design pieces that hone in on your life together, our team treats each wedding day with the utmost love & care. Whim has been named one of New England's Top Wedding Planners by My Weddings Magazine, awarded Boston's Best Wedding Planner by the Improper Bostonian, and voted one of Boston's Top 5 Florists on the Boston A-List.

You've heard that personal brands are the way to go if you want to build a thriving online business. But what does that even mean? And how do you present that personal brand online if you're introverted and reluctant to put yourself out there? In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, brand photographer Melissa Henry shares with us the ins and outs of creating a personal brand that stands out. We talk about how to present yourself online, when (if ever) to use stock photography and whether a highly curated Instagram feed is even worth it.  

Relationships are a necessary part of business growth because your content is only going to take you so far. Yes, content is important and yes, so is SEO. But people want to buy from people in our micro economy--not from logos and brands. In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, I'm talking to Abby Herman of Write Solutions about relationship marketing and how to put yourself out there in a way that feels good to you--and helps you grow your business. About Abby Herman Abby Herman is owner of Write Solutions, a content marketing agency for service-based business owners who want to gain visibility for their businesses with personalized content strategies and implementation. She specializes in idea generation and content strategy and delivery so her clients can keep on doing what they love in their businesses. She also creates courses to help newer business owners DIY their content marketing, because she knows from experience that there's nothing more frustrating than not knowing where to start. 

Do you struggle saying "no" in your business? Whether it's saying no to potential clients you don't want to work with, or so-called "opportunities" that are more hassle than they're worth, learn four effective strategies for saying "no", and start saying "yes" to spending your time and business effort how you see fit. Be sure to listen in if you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed about your schedule, about working with clients whom you don't really want to work with, or if you simply need practical strategies and techniques for saying "no" to anything that doesn't align with your business vision, or help you achieve your goals.  

You spend a lot of time and money on your website; you need it to do its job. But that doesn't mean you create content and throw it on your site. You need search engine optimization (SEO) so that Google can find you. I'm talking to Meg Clarke of Clapping Dog Media this week on The Sassy Strategist, and she's sharing her insight into why SEO doesn't need to be that confusing, overwhelming beast so many of us think it is. Like any other part of our business, we need to be strategic about how we think about our content so you can get the ROI you want out of your website. “Put a megaphone up to your website so the content you have and the content you're writing goes further, faster.” - Meg Clarke In this episode, we talk about where to begin if you're just starting out with SEO, why SEO is so important even when most of your business comes from referrals, the kind of content you need on your site and some easy fixes you can make to make your website more Google-friendly today. About Meg Clarke Meg is an SEO expert and the owner and founder of Clapping Dog Media. She focuses on creating functional websites using keyword analytics, site simplicity and her own personal experience to help her clients run successful online businesses. In addition, Meg specializes in communication, ensuring her customers learn and understand the SEO strategies with which she provides them so they leave Clapping Dog's services feeling empowered in their businesses. 

When service-based business owners want to grow but they've maxed out the amount of time they can spend on their businesses, they look to scaling. One way to do that is to build an app that offers a perk for their client base--or saves the business owner time or money.   This week on The Sassy Strategist, I'm talking with Tim Bornholdt of The Jed Mahonis Group, an agency that works with business owners on designing and developing custom mobile apps.