Are Google’s Local Services Ads really worth it?

Are you a service-based business looking to get more people in the door?

If your business is eligible, we would recommend running Google Local Services Ads.

In the past, Google Local Services Ads (GLSA) was only available to a niche sector of service based businesses in certain geographical locations, but it is now becoming available to a wider variety of service based businesses in several areas.

If you’re able to run GLSA in your area, it is a very powerful lead generation tool that connects people who are looking for a specific service on Google to businesses who offer that service.

Think Google Ads, but simpler.

They don’t display any headlines or descriptions — they only share the most essential information about your business.

These ads will show your business’ name, your hours of operation, the area you serve, your star ranking (based on your Google reviews) and a green check mark that says, “Google Guaranteed.”

Here’s an example of what they look like:

As you can see, these ads are short, sweet and to the point. But they pack a serious punch!

Here’s why…

Unlike Google Ads, GLSA prioritizes your ad based on how high your Google reviews are. This means, the higher your reviews are, the more often your ads will appear. Better yet, if you have higher reviews than your competitors, your ads will appear first in line!

But, this isn’t even the best part…

You only have to pay Google for every lead you receive. You don’t get charged for clicks.

And, as if that weren’t enough, They appear at the VERY top of a Google search when someone in your area is searching for the type of services you offer. And when I say the very top, I mean, above your competitors who are running Google Ads!

How cool is that?

So, if you’re a service based business looking to generate high quality phone call leads, and get more people in the door, GLSA is a fantastic option for you!

The only caveat is, there are still several businesses and areas that aren’t eligible to run Local Services Ads yet. However, my team and I can check to see if you are eligible to run them.

If you are, we would recommend taking advantage of the opportunity as soon as possible so you can be one of the first businesses in your area to run GLSA. If you aren’t, we can ask Google to notify you if/when your business becomes eligible.

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Want to see if your business is eligible to run Google Local Services Ads?

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In the meantime, if you have any questions about Google Local Services Ads, or simply want to chat about your marketing goals, my team and I are always an email away.

Your best friend in marketing,

Kirsten Johnson

It's Time to Make the Switch to Google Analytics 4

As a marketing specialist, I am always looking ahead to what’s changing in marketing and how it will affect my clients.

With that in mind, Google launched a major analytics update within the last year called Google Analytics 4 (GA4), meant to replace their old data collecting software, Universal Analytics (UA). In addition to this, as of July 1, 2023, UA has officially stopped processing data. This means Google accounts can no longer collect accurate data unless they have made the switch from UA to GA4.

So, if you have…

• An active Google ads account

• An active website

• An active Google Business Page

This update directly affects you.

Since Google Search is the main way customers access your business online, making the switch to GA4 is imperative because it will allow us to continue to understand your customers and how they’re interacting with you. It will also affect the overall performance of your Google Ads since Google uses data from previous ad engagement to show your ads at optimal times and create more conversions.

Here’s a list of the improvements Google has made with GA4, and why it will be beneficial for your marketing going forward:

• Google’s marketing insights will be using machine learning - GA4 will use advanced machine learning that automatically detects trends in your data.

• Better customization and improved audiences for Google Ads - GA4 also has a deeper integration with Google Ads. You can use the data from GA4 to build custom audiences that are more relevant and helpful to your customers.

• More intelligent user privacy and tracking features - The EU and many states have passed laws on marketing using cookies (this is just a cute name for website user data 😉), so big tech is responding by creating different tracking features that can accomplish the same quality ad targeting without breaking these laws.

• Simplified goals and events to maximize your ROI - This enables you to simply and effectively track your goals, and get granular behavioral data. What used to be complex is now straightforward.

• Analytical Reports will be much more detailed and customizable.

• Improved tracking of a customer’s journey on your website - This allows agencies like mine to know the steps a customer took prior to making a purchase, for example, they saw your ad on YouTube which then led them to your website.

I realize that all of this might sound totally nerdy, and may even fly over your head, but trust me when I say that all of these updates are immensely beneficial for market research. Ultimately, they will provide more detailed analytical data to agencies like mine, so I can create even better marketing strategies for businesses like yours.

If your interest is piqued and you’d like more information, or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

A Call Tracking Software That’s Changing the Game for Digital Ad Campaigns

We are implementing a new, cutting edge software that will allow us to get micro-specific on the call data we collect from people who click on a Google Ads Campaign. While Google Ads are a very beneficial way to market to your audience and attain insights on your campaign, we are offering something more!

This advanced call tracking software will make your ads more quantifiable and data more attainable. Additionally, the analytics provided will help us to identify and create more effective marketing strategies that will increase audience engagement.

Some of the advancements of this call tracking software are:

• Visitor session data

• What campaign is driving the most business

• The source of the call + more!

One of the most significant differences between Google Ads call tracking and our advanced software is the sources from which the leads are tracked. While Google Ads can track your call leads from any Google Ads campaign, our new software can track leads from sources such as Facebook, Bing Ads, Google Ads, etc. Furthermore, details of the caller such as personal information, source of call, and any past history is provided, preventing you from ever missing a call and staying on top of your leads.

We believe this will be a beneficial investment for anyone running a digital ad campaign and will ultimately increase the amount of leads they receive. We’re confident this advanced software will give small businesses the support and resources needed to grow, and will ensure success for the future.

If you are interested in applying our new software to your digital ad campaigns, please let us know! We are committed to helping small businesses like yours growth and thrive.

Website costs giving you sticker shock? Read this.

These days, it is crucial for small businesses to have a piece of online real estate - this is sort of a no brainer.

However, investing in a website build with all the bells + whistles isn’t always an option if you’re just starting out, or if you’re working with a tight budget.

If you fall under either of these categories, I would encourage you to start with a landing page instead.

Here’s why:

A landing page can do everything that a highly converting website can do, only they’re a fraction of the cost.

The main difference is they’re much more concise, and their primary goal is to generate warm leads for you to re-market to.

Everything a person would need to know about your business is strategically placed on ONE page, and is designed to draw a person in + convert them into a warm lead in a matter of minutes - sometimes even seconds!

They’re also a fantastic tool to pair with online advertising campaigns (Google Ads, YouTube Ads, Facebook Ads) because, after someone clicks on your ad, you have a VERY short window of time to make your case + get someone to convert, and landing pages are designed with this goal in mind.

Here’s how they work:

I've found that people will gladly give their contact information away to receive a really sweet deal! A landing page usually includes an enticing offer that would provide immense value to your target market, (like a free downloadable resource or a promotion of some kind) in exchange for their email address.

This information is then saved automatically to an email marketing database, so you can contact them in the future with special offers, promotions, or exciting announcements.

So, the moral of the story is…

If you want to focus on converting new leads quickly + efficiently without breaking the bank, investing in a landing page is the perfect option for you!

If you’re still on the fence, I go over everything you need to know about landing pages and why they’re so beneficial in this video:

Having a limited budget doesn’t mean you have to have a limited marketing strategy. If you’d like to maximize your marketing money by investing in a landing page, click here.

Let’s give your future customers a place to land.

How to Develop a Solid Marketing Strategy

When it comes to developing a solid marketing strategy, it’s really easy to feel paralysis by analysis.

There are numerous ways to market your business online these days, including (but not limited to)…

• Google Ads

• Facebook/Instagram Ads

• YouTube Ads

• Posting regularly on Social Media

• Email Marketing Campaigns + Automation Journeys

• Blog posting

• SEO optimization

• Google Business Profile Posting

…I could go on.

My point is, with all the options out there, it can be really difficult to discern which ones are best suited for the needs of your business.

On top of that, it’s even more difficult to figure out how to navigate all these platforms and leverage them successfully to meet your goals.

BUT…what if you didn’t have to do this alone?

What if you had someone with marketing expertise in your corner telling you EXACTLY what to do in order to drive more traffic to your website, collect more leads, and generate more revenue?

Wouldn’t that be nice?

This is why I developed my Creative Power Hour digital marketing coaching sessions.

In these sessions, you’ll receive one-on-one coaching from me for a whole hour. I’ll give you my professional advice on how to take your marketing strategy to the next level, and break it down for you step by step so you know exactly what to do going forward.

No more guesswork, just clear-cut strategy.

If you’re on the fence, I would encourage you to watch this video where I share my hope for every small business owner, and how I can get you there:

My overall goal is to help entrepreneurs see their dreams become their reality.

That’s what these Creative Power Hour sessions are all about - they are intended to give you a strategic course of action that will set you up for success.

Whether you’re a small business owner who is looking to restructure your marketing strategy, or you’re launching a new business and need help getting it off the ground, this is the perfect place to start.

All you have to do is show up with your dreams, goals and questions - I’ll take care of the rest.

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If you’re feeling overwhelmed by digital marketing, and aren’t sure where to start, let’s chat!

I didn't see a way out of this one...

In the winter of 2021, Greg and I found out that there was a landslide happening on our property beneath the private road that leads to our home. This meant that, eventually, there would be no way for us to get to our home (not in our cars anyway). The issue had begun a few years prior, and we thought we had resolved it, but despite our best efforts, the land was moving again.

In order to fix it, we would have had to sell everything we owned (and possibly a kidney or two) just to be able to afford it.

I didn’t see a way out of this one, and I felt absolutely defeated.

The home Greg and I had dreamed about, scrimped and saved for, and built from the ground up was slowly, and quite literally, drifting away.

The worst part was, there was nothing I could do about it.

Try as I might, I could not stop the land from moving - Imagine that!

I joke about it now, but this moment was a harsh reality check for me. I was forced to realize that no matter how hard I try, there are some things I simply cannot control, and this reality rattled me.

Up until this point, I believed that if I worked hard enough, I could shield myself from something like this. If I followed all the rules to a “T” and took every preventative measure possible, then nothing bad could ever happen to me.

But, the truth is, bad things still happen even if we do everything right.

I don’t know why, and I may not fully understand it now…

BUT I do know that through this hardship I have experienced tremendous growth and transformation. It has taught me to accept the things I cannot change, and that my perspective isn’t always accurate.

Here’s what I mean…

This time last year, I believed that God had abandoned me. I thought He had left me to fend for myself, and that I was on my own. But, this was merely my perception, not reality.

There was more to the picture that I couldn’t see.

I had an idea of what I thought my life should look like, and I was holding onto it so tightly that I couldn’t envision that, maybe, God had something better for me. Better than what I could have envisioned for my own life.

At the time, I was so focused on what was going wrong, that I couldn’t see the new and beautiful things that were beginning to take shape. The subtle brushstrokes that were being applied. But, looking back on it now, the picture is becoming clearer.

I am beginning to see that…

God not only cares about my problems, but also the problems of others. Because of the landslide, we were forced to get creative. After the landslide was fixed, we turned our home into a rental property, which has created multiple jobs that are now blessing others financially.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is to take one step forward in faith instead of standing frozen in fear. As a teacher, Greg encouraged his students to think critically and creatively about what they wanted out of life, and to pursue what inspired them, despite the fear they may feel along the way. This difficult season in our lives prompted Greg to take his own advice. Because of the landslide, he was able to leave a job that was no longer fulfilling to him, take a risk, and pursue a new career in construction and real estate.

I cannot control everything that happens to me, but I can control how I experience what happens to me, and how I look at my future. This experience has allowed me to develop new ways of thinking. Instead of focusing on everything I’m worried about, I try to focus on what is going well. Every day, I can choose to believe that my future is better than I could ever imagine, and practicing this allows me to feel excited about what’s to come, instead of “always waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

I could go on, but the point is, I have encountered blessings that I never would have received had things gone the way I wanted them to a year ago.

Don’t get me wrong, taking down my daughter’s nursery and leaving the home Greg and I had lived in for the last eight years was devastating, and I want to honor that. However, that circumstance, as painful as it was, redirected us.

We had no choice but to forge a new path for our life. One that sent us on a new adventure that we never would have said “yes” to had we not been drawn out of our comfort zone. When I think about this, I am reminded of a verse in Isaiah that has helped me get through many sleepless nights in the last year. It says,

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

– Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

All along, God has been preparing the way for something new to emerge. Of course, there are still things about my life that I don’t fully understand, but if I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that my perspective has a limit. There are so many things happening behind the scenes, even now, that I’m not aware of.

I still can’t see the whole picture of how the rest of my life will go, but I’ve made a decision.

I am going to be resilient.

Resiliently hopeful that the finished artwork of my life is going to be a masterpiece.

Will you join me?

Your Inflation Marketing Survival Guide

Everyone is kind of freaking out about the state of our economy right now.

Gas prices are astronomically high, people are making videos on TikTok about how little groceries they can actually buy for $100, and don’t even get me started on how much my contact lens cleaner just cost me at Target. It’s feeling very expensive to live right now and people are looking to cut costs wherever they can…which isn’t exactly great for small businesses.

While it’s totally valid to feel anxious, I think it’s important that we don’t let it paralyze us.

Instead, we should allow it to fuel us.

Now more than ever, it’s important that we adapt and stay agile when it comes to marketing.

So, how do you maximize the marketing services you’re currently using to get the most BANG for your buck?

Better yet, how do you know what services are the most beneficial for your business and which ones you should put on the back burner? 

I have put together a marketing survival guide that will help you figure out the most effective (and lucrative) strategy for your business while keeping it budget friendly. 

This will help you assess what marketing platforms/strategies you’re currently using and which ones you aren’t, as well as which ones are working and which ones aren’t. That way you can have a game plan to help you not only survive but thrive during this economic crisis. 

You can download this checklist by clicking the button below.

In the meantime, my team and I are always here to support you and answer any questions you may have about marketing. Just shoot us an email or give us a call, and we’ll be there to help steer the ship in the right direction toward your dream destinations in 2023.

My biggest bad habit (and how I'm building good ones).

I have a confession to make…

I’m a workaholic.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a high achiever, often at the cost of my health and quality of life. For years I thought if I just tried hard enough, I could have a healthy work/life balance, but I couldn’t have been more wrong…

But here's the rub -

When you’re an alcoholic, you can lose your job.

When you’re a workaholic, you get a raise.

When behaviors associated with workaholism are rewarded consistently in this way, they become second nature.

I recently finished reading the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and it was revolutionary for me. The tools I learned from Clear’s book are slowly (but surely) transforming my life from the inside out.

I realized that my life is a direct result of my daily habits, and if I want my life to change, I have to start there.

BUT in order to kick a bad habit, we need more than just willpower.

We need to have the right strategy in place.

According to Clear, to break a bad habit we must do the following:

1. Make it invisible.

2. Make it unattractive.

3. Make it difficult.

4. Make it unsatisfying.

In my next few emails, I’ll discuss each of these steps in further detail, so you can start breaking your bad habits and replacing them with good ones too.

In the meantime, I’ve included a free exercise that will allow you to take inventory of your daily habits. This will help you determine which ones are good, which ones are neutral, and which ones are keeping you from having the life you want.

We can’t change our habits if we don’t even know what they are, right?

Everything you need to know about Google Analytics 4

As a marketing specialist, I am always looking ahead to what’s changing in marketing and how it will affect my clients.

With that in mind, Google recently launched a major analytics update called Google Analytics 4 (GA4) that will affect the kind of data you’ll be able to collect after July 1, 2023. Since Google Search is the main way customers access your business online, these analytics are really important because they help me understand your customers and how they’re interacting with you.

If you have…

1. An active Google ads account

2. An active website

3. An active Google Business Page

This update will directly affect you (in a good way).

Here’s a list of what will be changing, and why it will be beneficial for your marketing going forward:

• Google’s marketing insights will be using machine learning - GA4 will use advanced machine learning that automatically detects trends in your data.

• Better Customization and Improved audiences for Google Ads - GA4 also has a deeper integration with Google Ads. You can use the data from GA4 to build custom audiences that are more relevant and helpful to your customers.

• More intelligent user privacy and tracking features - The EU and many states have passed laws on marketing using cookies (this is just a cute name for website user data 😉), so big tech is responding by creating different tracking features that can accomplish the same quality ad targeting without breaking these laws.

• Simplified goals and events to maximize your ROI - This enables you to simply and effectively track your goals, and get granular behavioral data. What used to be complex is now straightforward.

• Analytical Reports will be much more detailed and customizable.

• Improved tracking of a customer’s journey on your website - This allows agencies like mine to know the steps a customer took prior to making a purchase, for example, they saw your ad on YouTube which then led them to your website.

I realize that all of this might sound totally nerdy, and may even fly over your head, but trust me when I say that all of these updates are immensely beneficial for market research. Ultimately, they will provide more detailed analytical data to agencies like mine, so I can create even better marketing strategies for businesses like yours.

If this has piqued your interest at all, or if you’re totally confused, please don’t hesitate to contact me to…

Think you're not creative? Think again.

Hiring a graphic designer is a lot like hiring a design coach.

Don’t worry, I won’t make you drop and give me 50 push-ups if you hire me. I’m not that kind of coach.

However, I will help you communicate ideas visually that:

1. Inform

2. Inspire

3. Captivate

More importantly, I’ll help you discover what you actually like (and don’t like), and walk you through the steps of effectively telling the story of your brand through, well, art!

A lot of client’s I’ve worked with in the past have said, “I just don’t have a good eye for design…” or, “I’m not very creative…”

But the truth is, we all have things that we find beautiful.

​​If I were to walk inside your home right now, I would probably find all sorts of items with various textures, colors, and patterns. Items that you purchased at one time or another because you were drawn to them. You probably purchased them because you liked the way they looked, or found them interesting to look at.

And, if I had to wager a guess...

Selecting those items was probably a pretty straightforward, instinctual process, right?

Well, the very same process applies when working with a graphic designer.

They'll create a few different designs for whatever your project is, present them to you, and ask you to choose the design you're the most drawn to. The one that reflects you and your business the most accurately. The one you can't stop looking at because you find it so fascinating…

When you think of it that way, it doesn't sound so intimidating anymore, does it?

It actually sounds kind of, dare I say...

FUN!

Which is exactly how it should feel.

Remember, if you aren’t a self-proclaimed “artist,” this does NOT mean your creative ideas aren’t valid. It’s actually quite the opposite; your input and ideas are an invaluable part of the design process.

A big part of a designer’s job is to find out what kind of design aesthetic resonates with your business specifically, BUT we can’t do that without your collaboration. Yes, we have the skills to create something that is visually appealing, but we can’t execute your vision well if we don’t know what that vision is.

This will require time and critical thinking.

But it’s time well-spent.

If you don’t consider yourself an artist, it’s totally normal to feel self conscious about doing something creative like this. But, the truth is, everyone is capable of being creative. You just have to allow yourself to be.

Here’s what I mean…

Sometimes we can be so critical of ourselves that we’re not able to have a creative thought because we shut down every idea that comes to mind.

A big part of creativity is being willing to dream without embarrassment. You have to throw things at the wall and see what sticks. Not everything will, and that’s okay — this is a crucial part of any design process.

However, a lot of ideas will stick if you're willing to try.

I’m living proof.

But here’s the kicker…

A lot of small business owners are so overworked that they don’t have the time/capacity to be creative.

Bottom line? One of the biggest killers of creativity is, well, being really stressed out.

One of my favorite inspirational quotes I’ve seen floating around the internet lately is,

“You have the same number of hours in the day as Beyonce.”

Now, you may not have a driver and a personal chef to carry some of the weight, but you do have 24 hours that YOU OWN. Your time is under your leadership. So, if you’re willing to let a few things go to make room for more creative freedom in your life, I promise it’s going to get better, and you’re going to enjoy working with a designer a whole lot more.

I’ve put together a list of questions to ensure that the collaboration with your designer is successful and stress free from beginning to end. I hope these are helpful and inspire you to make room for even more creativity in your life today!

Before you invest in marketing, read this.

What is marketing, anyway? 

Basically, marketing consists of these two elements: brand awareness + sales.

As a business, your core values, your philosophy, your product, your services, your mission, and even your personality, are all a part of your brand. So, when I talk about building brand awareness, what I really mean is, making your target market aware of these things so they know exactly what you’re all about. 

This requires showing up consistently online in a way that is helpful, entertaining, educational, or inspiring. If you’re telling a story that resonates with your ideal client or customer, or providing a free resource that meets one of their needs, they’re going to choose you over your competition every time because you’ve built a rapport with them. 

They trust you. They like you. They want to see you win.  

This is what brand awareness is all about.

Sales on the other hand, is the act of converting a potential lead into a new customer, patient or client. Guess how we do that? Yep, you guessed it, brand awareness!

The bottom line is…you can’t have consistent sales without brand awareness. They’re two sides of the same coin. With that being said, marketing is not a quick fix or a get rich quick scheme. It is a system of various strategies that nurture your business and its growth over time. 

Think of it this way...

Say your business is a seed that you want to see grow and thrive. As a marketing expert, my job is to plant that seed in rich soil (aka your target market), and water it consistently by employing an effective marketing strategy.

Now, with that being said, it’s important to remember that growth takes time. 

A seed doesn’t just sprout up overnight. However, over time, with consistent watering and a lot of intentional care, it will grow into a healthy, flourishing plant that bears a TON of fruit for you to enjoy year after year. 

See where I’m going with this? Great! 

Let’s take this analogy a little further, shall we?

When a gardener is getting acquainted with the process of growing a new plant, there is a lot of trial and error involved. Of course, they’ll research what is recommended for that plant and develop a strategy for its growth and development, but sometimes things don’t go according to plan. 

How many of you have tried growing a vegetable in your backyard, following the instructions to a “T”, expecting a bounty of fresh produce, only to end up with a few measly sprouts?

I definitely have, and it can be a little disheartening.

BUT, if you want those veggies to grow, do you simply hang your head and give up?

Of course not! When this happens, You have to experiment a little in order to figure out what this specific plant needs to thrive. 

Does it need fertilizer to help it soak up more nutrients? 

Does it need more light or more shade? 

Does it need to be watered every day or just once a week? 

Does it need to be pruned? 

What about deadheaded? 

All of these details are learned along the way by trying out different methods and then, here’s the kicker, waiting to see what works and what doesn’t. 

And guess what? The same rules apply to marketing.

I work with an incredible group of creatives, and a big part of our job is trying out different marketing strategies to see what an audience responds to, and sometimes, what it doesn’t respond to. Then, we analyze that data, and further refine our marketing strategy from there. 

Okay, let’s go back to our gardening analogy one last time before I land the plane.

As talented as they are at nurturing plants, a gardener is not the sun, meaning, they are not the source of life that causes the seed to grow. Their job is to tend to the seed and provide the right environment for it to grow if and when the sun shines on it.

You know those giant, horse-pill vitamins that are really hard to swallow? The kind that feel so uncomfortable going down that you almost regret taking them, even though they’re really good for you?

Well, what I’m about to say may feel very similar to that.

I am not God. 

Ultimately, I am not what is going to make your business successful. But, I firmly believe that if this business is what you were created to do, the harvest will be plentiful. Not only that, I am convinced that there is no other team of designers, copywriters, videographers, photographers, or content creators who will work harder to advocate for the success of your business than my agency. 

We are dedicated to telling your story to the right people and nurturing the relationships you form with them. We can’t force their hand, but we can put something in front of them worth reaching for.

That’s our job.

If you’re considering investing in marketing, or if you already are, I want to encourage you to take some time to answer these questions:

1. What do you want more of in your life? Why do you want more of it? Ex. “I want more time, more freedom, etc.”

2. What do you want more of in your business? Why do you want more of it? 

3. What is your primary goal when it comes to your business? Why did you start it in the first place? Do you simply care about making more money, or is there something deeper that motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? 

All in all, if you’re investing in marketing, I highly encourage you to set aside time to think through and answer these questions. 

“I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think. So I do more reading and thinking, and make less impulse decisions than most people in business.”

—Warren Buffet

Just like a garden, our minds must be tended. And, in answering these questions for myself, I’ve realized that my primary goal for my business is to see you win too.

Freaking out? Read this.

This is not new news…the world is getting weirder by the day.
 
And scarier.
And more frustrating.
And sadder.
And more overwhelming.
 
But one thing has become abundantly clear to me in 2021: 
 
I cannot afford to spend any more of my limited energy on things I can't control.
 
The truth? We have ZERO control over our circumstances...but 100% control over how we respond to them.

I want to share 5 things that have been instrumental in my own journey toward personal and business health so far this year that will hopefully help you face the season you're in:
 

#1: Ask yourself, "What do I really want?" This is not what cousin Pam wants, or someone else slaying all day on Instagram. What do you really, really want? For yourself? Your family? Your career? WRITE IT DOWN and put it somewhere where you will remember to look daily. What you choose to focus on will become your reality, so be careful with this step.

#2: Be honest. So simple, yes? Be honest with others, with those you work alongside, and with yourself. People can sniff out a lie, and it's never worth it. You don't have to be the best or the greatest, but being a truth-teller (in love) will always move the needle in a positive direction.

#3: Ask yourself, "Am I actually marketing in the year I am living in?" There was a year and a place for yellow page ads, but now is not the time. How are YOU engaging with brands in 2021? Bethere. And if you don’t know how to start, ask someone who does and (this is key)just imperfectly start heading in that direction!

#4: Get your home health right first.If your home life is broken, you are going to be operating from brokenness in all other aspects of your life. Your own home health should be at the top of your goal list for 2021. We need you operating in wholeness so that you can truly share your mission with the world. Achieving wholeness will also help you get clarity on what you actually want out of life. This is time well-spent!

#5: Be patient.The longer I have been an entrepreneur, the more I realize that being an entrepreneur isn’t just my job…it’s my lifestyle. This means I have a long, long road ahead that isn’t worth rushing. Because LIFE isn’t worth rushing! You. Still. Have. So. Much. Time. So many people’s number one vulnerability is that they don’t have a great relationship with time (aka…they don’t realize how young they actually are). So, if you’re thinking you're ship has sailed, that you don’t have it all figured out, there’s nothing to figure…

Just LIVE. Move! Learn! Get better! Enjoy learning new things about yourself. Bottom line…it’s still so, so early! 

One last thing before I go.

I am keenly aware that we all have some pretty heavy loads we are bearing into the new year, and sometimes the thought of reaching out to someone else feels risky.

I want to encourage you today that you are worthy enough to ask for help in some small way today.

We need authentic, real relationships now more than ever before. And, while we may not be able to carry one another's burdens, we can help carry the person, the friend, the family member the co-worker, the customer by simply acknowledging where they are at, listening, and believing that their burdens are real. 

May you choose LIFE today amidst the weirdness, and maybe even call someone and ask for a little help. 

You're worth it. 

Kirsten

How to never quit.

never quit.

Thoughts on Purpose + Happiness

There are a few times this year where I’ve wanted to throw in the towel.

You know, call it quits.

Get a job at Starbucks (if they'd even hire me with NO barista experience), have someone else tell me what to do and learn how to make a really good latte.

But I never did.

I was pondering this phenomenon earlier this week, actually. How in the world do I make the decision to never quit, to not stay in bed all day, to keep going when things are really, really hard?

Why am I the way that I am, I wonder? What drives me forward most days?

Fear?
Duty?
Achievement?
Service?
Pride?
Gratitude?
Sheer stubbornness?
Perfection?
Happiness?

It’s a hard question to ask yourself, but an important one to answer if you really want to get going on the right track..not just get somewhere, anywhere.

I recently started listening to Dan Crenshaw’s book, Fortitude.

I loved this clip so much that I re-listened and typed it out word-for-word to share with you…because it’s just that good. I believe that we all need to hear what he has to say as we wrap up the end of what has been, for many of us, the most difficult year of our lives.

I hope this excerpt turns a light back on in your mind, reminding you why you're here, why you do what you do...and to never quit.

Kirsten

-----

“Purpose is meaning. And meaning is happiness. We don’t think about happiness enough, and when we do, we do not necessarily think about it properly. Happiness is neither joy nor entertainment. It is an ontological condition, fundamental in our existence as humans. It’s notable that when the founders drafted the Declaration of Independence they listed up front three things to which we are entitled-life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

That’s two things that we ought to have as such.

And one thing that we deserve merely to pursue.

The founders didn’t think the government should or could guarantee happiness, they only knew it should clear the path for us to chase it.

The chase, you see, is the point. The pursuit is the purpose…

…In 2018, Marcus Luttrell was kind enough to have me on his podcast. You may know Marcus as the author of Lone Survivor. That story is one of the battlefield epics of post-911 American history…taking on hundreds of Taliban fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan. Only Marcus lived to tell the tale. It’s no accident his podcast is entitled, "Never Quit."

Marcus asks every guest to tell their “never quit” story.

He asked me mine. When he asked, I requested that he stop recording. I needed to think. I wanted to get this right. This was the most important thing that I could share with his audience. Not the war stories, not the tales of camaraderie or suffering in the field.

This.

How to never quit.

After a few seconds, it came to me. Here’s what I said:

You have purpose in this life. God has you here for a reason. You may not know it, but he does. Your job is to find it. No one else can.

You need to understand that your purpose may be great in the eyes of the world, or it may be commonplace and seemingly small.

Your purpose might be your family, your children.
Your purpose might be tutoring a child and changing their life.
Your purpose might be the business you start.
Your purpose might be cleaning up your block.
Your purpose might be in the help you give others.
Your purpose might be in the example you set.

Only you and God know. Only you and God need to know.

Search until you find it.

And until then, act as if you have it.

…You were designed to use your reason and your natural gifts. And to cultivate those assets to a fulfillment of a higher end.

Your purpose allows for no Plan B...

Plan B should be less satisfying in every single way because it represents a lesser version of yourself, the anti-hero. It represents the version that decided to give up and convince yourself that you never really wanted your dream in the first place. It is a habit that must be broken in order to develop the fortitude necessary to face life's challenges.

...It is the decision to live with good moral intent and purpose, to live dutifully, it is the decision to take every small choice seriously because it is the small habits that drive you toward your purpose, your success.

Your purpose is yours. So is the choice of whether to fulfill it."

-Dan Crenshaw

Former United States Navy SEAL Officer
Author of Fortitude
United States Representative

Website and SEO lookin' like the 90's?

Website feeling blah?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) less than awesome?
 
It’s time to level up your game. I’m calling 2020 the year of redemption for a lot of things that once felt lost…time, priorities, and yes, even your online presence.
 
This task seem intimidating and expensive...but it doesn’t have to be. I heard the best lyrics to my new favorite song over the weekend: 
 
“Fear may come, but fear will leave.”
 
Fear may come…but it is guaranteed to leave when your eyes are opened to what you really need to focus on to gain momentum in the right direction.
 
If you commit to persist in these 9 steps and reach out for help (no shame in that game), you’re guaranteed to let 2020 be the best thing that’s ever happened to your online presence. 
 
#1. Review your Website Analytics monthly. 
If you are not tracking how visitors are engaging with your website each month, I hope you’re empowering someone else to. This is a crucial step to take before moving on to anything else. Once can understand your online traffic, you can then tweak and adjust weak points based on the data you collect. Do not skip this step! 
 
#2. Add backlinks to other sites that boost your credibility.
A backlink is when a link leads you to another page on your own site or external website. This not only helps boost your credibility online, but also helps your SEO due to linking yourself to other businesses/ services that are in line with your own mission and can help bring value to your target audience.
 
#3. Update your Google Business Page.
This also needs to be done monthly. Did you know that you can actually do regular blog posts directly on your Google Business page?! It’s true…and it helps your SEO! Don’t forget about adding fresh photos and ensuring all hours and policies are on the up-and up. Be sure to also turn on notifications so you can see how many views your page is getting to track your progress and see how potential customers are engaging with your business. And…need I mention reviews?! Respond to them ALL. A happy customer is a heard customer, especially online.
 
#4. Update your SEO page descriptions on your website.
SEO page descriptions are short texts that represent your page or site content. You can see it below the page title in any search results for a businesses. Here are the basics to be aware of:
 

• SEO site wide description - This represents your homepage and is a general description of your site.

• SEO page descriptions - These are key word descriptions for each individual page or collection of items on your website. For example you would need a description for your About, Testimonials, FAQ and Contact pages.

• Page description - This is a general description that tells Google about what the page is.

 
#5. Publish content often.
Search engines love new content and reward sites that consistently produce relevant and timely information. One way to do this is by updating your blog posting content. Don’t have a blog? It’s never too late to start…and it’s important for the health of your SEO. In order to establish your credibility in your niche, it’s crucial to give the internet solid content to pull from. Create a regular schedule (again, I'd suggest monthly) so that your visitors know that you and your site are alive and well!
 
#6. Identify and use keywords (text) on your site.
For example, if you’re trying to drive new customers to your consulting site, you might want to include copy with terms like 'hire a consultant' to help search engines match your site with related keywords that people are searching for.  It's important that your blog posts also include these keywords that reflect what your target market would type into google. 
 
#7. Optimize page loading speed.
This is a top design trend of 2020 for a reason. The content on your site will impact how quickly it loads. Pages with a lot of images can load slowly, especially on mobile devices with slower connections. Whenever possible, keep your pages to at least under 5MB. 
 
#8. Check to make sure none of your website content is out of date.
Bottom line…make sure your content is relevant and that none of your links are broken. List of services, product prices, operation hours, and contact information are some of the biggies you need to check.
 
#10. Run some ads.
Google and Facebook Ads will help drive traffic to your page once all of the items listed above have been completed so that you can start collecting the right kind of leads for your business! Keep in mind there is definitely a right and a wrong way to run ads online. If you have questions about this, just ask. 
 

Annnnndd there you have it! Whew!
 
Kirsten


P.S. Too busy to handle all those SEO things and need an expert’s eye? Solve that with services like monthly SEO strategies and reports from our team of professionals to help lighten the load. We're saying no to SEO fear over here...and are always here to help.