How to define your ideal customer avatar – even when your customers have nothing in common
You’ve heard the advice that you’ve got to define your ideal customer avatar if you want to write compelling copy. But what do you do if you could work with literally anyone? Lately, I’ve seen a lot of my customers struggling with defining their ideal customer. You could work with men and women, young people or senior citizens and it […]
Why you should work for free (and how to make it pay)
Would you work for free? It’s a question that evokes strong emotions, especially amongst my fellow writers. In an age of content marketing, freelancer writers and designers often find the “free” part of their work title taken a little too literally. But if you are starting out in online business, or changing your niche, there are […]
Feeling less than qualified? Try this
Do you ever feel like you’re not really qualified to do what you do? This week, I spoke with a friend and client who is starting a business offering demonstrations in la cucina casalinga – Italian home cooking. Simple food and pared back flavours, cooked with the freshest ingredients found in any farmer’s market. It’s exciting […]
The unexpected benefits of baring your belly – An interview with Julie Bhosale
A few months ago, Julie Bhosale The New Mum’s Nutritionist, decided she would do something extraordinary to help one woman. As a health professional, Julie was acutely aware of the pressure on Mums to ‘bounce back’ into their skinny jeans just days or weeks after childbirth. So as she approached the birth of her second child (and […]
7 ways to share your story – not your life
Do you ever feel exposed in your online business? All that blogging, social media, Periscope, podcast interviews, Youtube – suddenly you’re putting yourself out there in a way you never had to before. Last week I wrote about why sharing your story is one of the most powerful things you can do for your business. […]
Too shy to share? Here’s why your story counts in business
We’ve all heard that storytelling is an important part of marketing your online business. After all, everyone loves a good story. But what if sharing your story doesn’t come naturally? When I tell clients to bring their personal story into their website, some will visibly shudder. ‘No way’, they’ll splutter, before diving behind the nearest […]
Choosing love over metrics – Lessons from Problogger 2015
Working online can be an isolating business. Sure, I get to work with women all over the world every single day, via Skype and Zoom and email and Facebook, but there’s something special about connecting in person. One of my goals for 2015 was to find my way to one of the international conferences dedicated to […]
Six ways your “professional” image is harming your business
When clients tell me they have trouble standing out, or they don’t feel comfortable with their website, my number one question is this: Are you being yourself? Or are you being professional? Of course we all want to show that we have credibility. We want to look like we know what we are doing, that […]
Think you want to work with “corporate people”? Think again
When I ask my new clients to describe their ideal customer they’ll often say, “I want to work with corporate people.” “So,” I reply, “tell me what you love about working with ‘corporate people.’” And that’s where many of them come unstuck. Because the truth is, they don’t really have a burning desire to work […]
Before you buy that online course – Read this
Do you ever feel like this online business thing has too many moving parts? There’s just so much to learn. Whether it’s WordPress or Periscope, sales funnels or digital product creation, you’ll need to acquire a lot of new skills in your online business journey. Thankfully, there are many brilliant online courses to expand your […]
