Strategic Storytelling

This podcast looks at 3 ways your website resembles an Easter egg:

(1) Websites, like Easter eggs, rarely last forever.

After working with dozens of business owners to create a compelling, “stand-out…

Your client says, "I don't want to work with you anymore."

Or they disappear.

What can you do? 

You can try to find out why they've left. Usually, that's a lost cause. Some clients don't know why the…

Being a podcast guest brings many rewards. You open up opportunities. You get exposure in several ways. 

Small podcast? You still benefit. 

Link to the interview on your website. Your prospective cli…

If you own a service business, you probably know this already: Writing a book can bring you exposure, credibility, and ultimately, more clients. You get transformed from "business owner" to "thought …

You'll find lots of lists of "website mistakes." This episode introduces 3 common mistakes that can be fixed with storytelling.

For one thing, you need to be sure you're telling the right story - con…

Should you swear when you're onstage for your business? The answer is, "sometimes." Only one of the five archetypes can get away with swearing...and I'll explain which one.

For the other archetypes,…

If you've been following the soap opera saga of British royalty Harry and Meghan, you know they generated some explosive content. Apparently, they were surprised at the reaction of their many readers…

As an entrepreneur, you've probably heard the saying, "A Confused Mind Doesn't Buy." So when you're thinking of expanding your business to encompass your new interests, you may wonder: Do I have to h…

Entrepreneurs and small business owners often believe the sequence "Idea --> Create Offer --> Start Marketing." It sounds logical, doesn't it?

Truth is, if you wait till you've got a finished produc…

When I moved to Philly almost 12 years ago,  I had to decide what to keep and what to toss. I was tempted to follow the maxim, "When in doubt, throw it out."  But over time, I've learned that sometim…

Just after I recorded this podcast, a marketing coach popped up in my inbox with advice to share your story of personal trauma. Yep, another Cringe of the Day.

You can't miss the Harry & Meghan story…

As a small business owner, you're unabashedly in business because you want to earn revenue. Often that means increasing prices in order to reach your realistic profit goals. 

So how do you announce a…

Go through your inbox and you’ll find yourself responding to messages with, “I bet whoever wrote this is blushing beet red by now. The word ‘cringeworthy’ was designed for this.” 

We’ve all made at l…

If your services relate to problem-solving, I’m willing to bet that few people will call you for an appointment until they’ve experienced a sharp defining moment. Psychologists call these experiences…

When you tell stories, you influence your audience. In business and in life, you're encouraged to share stories that reflect your audience's reality. 

But all too often, you're faced with someone who…

Whether you’re looking for a content creator, a designer, or an accountant, most likely you won't start with a search engine. You'll ask around before you get serious.

The WSJ recently wrote about a …

"Your copywriting needs to be edgy!" is the advice I've given for years. 

I could have added, "And your books need to be even more edgy!" 

For a good part of summer and fall of 2022, I worked on a bo…

When I work on content strategy for lawyers, financial planners, and other professional service businesses, they point out that they can’t promise their clients a “win.” Lawyers can’t promise they’ll…

You probably know that storytelling can be fun. And you probably know storytelling can be the most important tool in your marketing kit. 

But how do you evaluate what you're really getting from telli…

I get a lot of questions about edgy copy because it’s popular today - for all the wrong reasons. Business owners want content that startles and grabs attention. And there’s a lot of pressure to write…