Episodios
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The Future Of The Podcast Is Something I’ve Been Thinking About A Lot Lately.
If you’ve been wondering what’s up with the podcast… join the club. After doing this for so long, I was really thinking that maybe it was time to turn the page and put it to bed.
But the more I thought about it, the more I knew that that decision wasn’t coming from the right place.
The last thing people would say about me is that I’m indecisive.
In fact, I’ve probably made a lot of decisions quickly that could have used a little more processing time to weigh the pros and cons, but that’s really not how I operate, so I’ll leave that one alone.
The past 6-8 months have fascinated me when I step back and examine what’s happened and how my mindset has shifted (read ‘grown’).
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I attribute this to a few things:
Experience – having been in this game for a long time, I know enough that in times of uncertainty or the need for clarity, it’s best to be patient.Age – there is something so freaking delightful about getting older and caring a whole lot less about what other people thinkLife changes—The move back to California in February 2023 was right for me, and now I’m heading back to Costa Rica. People have asked how long I’ll stay there, and I honestly don’t know. I want to stay put for a while (which, to me, is 3+ years). Ultimately, I’d like to buy there, but we’ll see where the economy goes.A little history about the podcast:
I started podcasting in 2013 when I was “The WPChick” and the podcast was “The WPChick Podcast.”
There were maybe 5 other WordPress podcasts at the time, so getting some traction was pretty easy. I alternated between solo shows and interviews, which was a smart strategy because it really grew my audience.
I think the years between 2019 and now were so challenging personally that to host interviews and truly show up for other people felt like a lot of work… work that I didn’t really have the energy for… until now.
During that time, I went through some extremely challenging situations with my son, and then my Mom passed away unexpectedly in 2019, and my world was turned upside down.
Then, we all know what happened in 2020, when I decided to move to Boise, ID, followed by a move to Costa Rica in 2021.
So… needless to say, the last 5 years have been a lot (with other things happening in the background, but I’ll save that for my therapist).
Here’s the thing with all of this: To some people, this may not seem like a lot, and to others, it may seem overwhelming. I’ve been so incredibly hard on myself for things I’ve done, not done, not done enough of, woulda’, shoulda’, coulda’…. the judgment is what’s really gotten in the way.
None of us get through this life unscathed, without messing up, losing people we love, and without challenges and struggles.
That’s life.
It really is how we handle what happens to us that makes all the difference.
SO… all that...
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Before we get too much into discovering and defining Your ONE Thing, I want to preface this by saying that it isn’t about only doing or having ONE thing.
Even though that level of focus is pretty amazing (and is something I’m working towards, it’s a process).
This is about creating the ONE thing you’re known for.
Not a niche (swear I’m not anti-niche, I’m anti-ONLY-niche), but more of a brand philosophy and mantra that people associate with you and your business.
And if you’re a personal brand, ideally, people associate your ONE thing with YOU personally.
I’m hosting a free workshop next week, so I thought I’d give you a little sneak peek and preview what we’re going to cover and why this is crucial to differentiate yourself in a very noisy world filled with AI content.
And for what it’s worth, I LOVE AI and use it all the time.
But what sets you apart is who you are.
If you have even a little understanding and knowledge of copywriting, marketing, direct response, and content, you can use AI pretty easily and get decent output.
What AI can’t do is be YOU (and hopefully not in my lifetime because, let’s face it, that’s a little creepy to even think about).
You can absolutely train it to sound like you, write in your voice, use the type of language you use, but you still have to train it.
That’s where Your ONE Thing comes in.
I have a 6-step framework for “Your ONE Thing” – so let’s jump into it.
Be sure to register for the FREE workshop here. The LIVE Workshop is on Wednesday, May 15th at 11:00 PDT. It will be recorded, but you need to register.
If you get this after the live workshop, you can register and watch the on-demand workshop for free with the same link (and my goal is to run this live more than once while I continue iterating and refining everything).
Your ONE Thing FrameworkHere’s the 6-step framework, with more detailed explanations below:
Core Discovery DiveAudience AlchemyIdea IncubatorReality CheckIdentity ImprintLaunchpad Lift-OffLet’s dive deeper into each one.
Core Discovery Dive (self-assessment & reflection):This is the self-assessment and reflection step of the framework. You’re going to want to dive deep into the core of your personal and business identity to uncover the unique elements that define you. Self-awareness is key here. This step also requires a certain level of courage and commitment to showing up genuinely as yourself and letting go of what people think.Understanding your strengths and passions will make creating more authentic and engaging content much easier.Audience Alchemy (market and audience analysis):This involves a combination of market research and analysis and knowing your ideal target audience, including psychographics (which are just as valuable, if not more valuable, than demographics).You want to hone in on what excites them, their desires, and the specific problems they have that you can solve uniquely.Understanding market trends and audience preferences can help refine your unique selling proposition to meet your audience where they’re at.Idea Incubator (ideation & concept development):This is where we will start brainstorming potential “ONE Things” for you and your business. I love all the steps, but this is probably my favorite. There are a couple of different methodologies for doing this, including the SCAMPER method (which I just discovered) and my Umbrella method.The Umbrella method is an easier place to start, and then, as you get clearer, you can iterate and move on to the SCAMPER method if you want to go deeper.Reality Check (validation and testing):This is where the... -
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Today, I’m coming to you not from my usual studio setup but rather from the driver's seat of my car.
This freestyle episode is all about embracing what I like to call "sacred simplicity" in both our personal and professional lives.
06:41 A Busy weekend led to a much-needed rest.
09:11 Appreciate health because it can be fleeting.
11:52 Woman shares emotional video, regrets, seeks comfort.
15:21 Working for a year, not just privilege.
18:40 Experiences shape us and make us strive for self-actualization.
21:27 Regret over past, compassion for self, insignificance.
24:04 Prioritizing joy, learning, and mastering paid traffic.
27:10 Uncertainty about shift, preference for simplicity explained.
32:50 Tangible benefit motivates discussion of white labeling.
33:43 Offer writing, content, SEO services, validate organically.
39:07 Discussing lead gen and content strategies for ads.
40:42 Optimize traffic ads, capture leads, and test.
43:45 Focusing on quality work and living with ease.
A Time of Transition and ReflectionI’m currently in a season of significant change, counting down the months until my move to Costa Rica. As part of this transition, I've been tackling the task of decluttering and sorting through years of accumulated belongings at my dad's house, now up for sale. This process has been both physically demanding and emotionally revealing. It's amazing what we hold onto over the years, isn't it?
During a weekend dedicated to clearing out my storage unit, I realized that some boxes hadn’t been opened since my move from Boise in March of 2021. Items were still labeled "go through before Costa Rica," a reminder of postponed decisions. Yet, this clean-up wasn’t just about sorting through physical objects but also about reassessing what’s essential in my life. This is where the concept of sacred simplicity really comes to life—finding clarity and joy in the essentials, shedding the excess that no longer serves us.
The Refreshing Break from Digital ClutterThe physical labor of sorting and moving boxes provided a much-needed break from the digital clutter of my daily life. There’s something profoundly liberating about stepping away from screens and focusing on physical tasks. It allows for a mental reset, which is increasingly rare in our hyper-connected world.
This disconnect from digital work brought a surprising freshness to my thoughts. It reminded me of the importance of balance and taking time to enjoy simple pleasures—like the perfect weather we had, a crisp 76 degrees of pure sunshine. It was a reminder of the beauty of living in the moment and appreciating the small, simple joys that life offers.
Learning from Vanessa Lau: A Lesson in Sacred SimplicityDuring this time, I watched a video by Vanessa Lau, an influential content creator who recently returned from a sabbatical. Vanessa chose to step back at the height of her career to prioritize her well-being—a decision that resonates deeply with the concept of sacred simplicity. It’s about making life choices that honor our deepest needs and values rather than constantly pushing for more.
Vanessa’s courage to choose herself over perpetual business growth is a powerful testament to the strength found in simplicity. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves and our businesses is to take a step back, reflect, and recalibrate.
Sacred Simplicity in MarketingIn the realm of digital marketing, sacred simplicity can transform how we approach content and engagement. It’s about stripping back the unnecessary and focusing on what truly matters—connecting with our audience in authentic and meaningful ways.
For instance, my philosophy of "Everything is Content" is an embodiment of this simplicity. It’s about seeing the...
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I Think It’s Safe To Say Most Content Creators Are Using AI For Content Creation These Days.
But I thought I’d go deeper, specifically, with how I’m using it.
There are a few different ‘camps’ when it comes to AI and some of them are totally over my head.
In other words, I’m not sure that I really care how it works, what LLMs are doing, which companies have completed a new round of billions of dollars invested, or whether Nvidia or AMD is producing more chips.
All I care about is how I can use it in my business to do one of two things (I’ll go deeper with each of these below):
Get clarity and createCut down the time it takes to complete thingsI haven’t gotten into much in terms of automations or having AI do tasks I don’t want to do, but that’s mainly because I don’t have a significant need for it right now.
My primary focus with AI right now is on using it for content creation.
I write all of my podcasts, blog posts, and emails. In other words, none of this is generated by AI (probably obvious, but you know what they say about assuming).
I’ve created one post with the help of AI (you can read that here) because I wanted to test creating an outline, seeing what the output was, and then adjusting from there. It was a good experience and process, and I’ll use it again for a couple of more in-depth tutorial posts I’m working on.
For example:
I’m in the process of moving from ConvertKit to beehiiv (at the time of writing this post).
As beehiiv continues to grow, I know a lot more people will be making this move, and I think it’s a great way to get traffic to the site, attract new subscribers (people making this move are definitely my target market), and make some affiliate commissions along the way.
Here’s the prompt I used to start this post:
Good afternoon! I’d love your help writing an epic blog post (that I’ll create a video for as well) on the process of moving an email list, subscribers, newsletter, and automations from ConvertKit to beehiiv. Is this something you can help me with? I want this to be super clear, easy to understand and highly optimized for SEO. I’ll convert the blog post into a PDF that people can download as well. What do you need from me to get started?
By the way, that’s one of my favorite ways to start a conversation with ChatGPT (yes, I call them conversations).
I give simple context about what I want to accomplish, then ask what it needs from me to get started to accomplish what I’ve asked for.
I don’t want to get into the weeds with detailed prompts (I think I may start doing some video on this), but I want to give you an example of how I’m using it) – but the initial question of “what do you need from me” will help you get the best result possible.
OK, let’s look at the first of the two bullets I mentioned first.
Using AI For Content Creation To Gain Clarity And CreateFirst, I treat ChatGPT (or Chatty as I call her) as more of a partner than a tool, which is why I write in a conversational manner as opposed to simply imputing prompts.
I find the entire...
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Organic traffic still works.
It’s not that I thought it didn’t, but in many ways, I think I had resigned myself to thinking it was so much harder than it used to be.
In some ways, it is harder, but in other ways, we have so many tools at our fingertips (AI) that there’s no reason you can’t test and try things much faster. You can get data in 90 days that will tell you what’s working.
Depending on how long you’ve been online (i.e., you’re not starting from scratch), you may get results much faster.
For me, I’ve seen some pretty fun results in only a few weeks.
Let’s get into it.
After 16 years online, you would think I would have learned to “never say never”… but here I am, changing my tune.
Fortunately, I’m pretty transparent about these little lessons I go through and have no shame in sharing that I’ve changed my mind.
Ideally, when we know better, we do better, right?
Mind you, things change so quickly online (especially with AI now) that we better learn to be comfortable changing our minds and trying new things (once we have the fundamentals in place, anyway).
The best part of what I’m experiencing right now is that this is all happening because of ONE thing.
And I’m on a mission to help you figure out your ONE thing.
And no, this doesn’t mean you only have ‘one thing’ in your business (I’m speaking to all of you multi-passionate entrepreneurs who, bless you, can manage multiple offers, directions, or businesses).
I’m talking about starting with one core content idea that is part of your foundation.
For Now, Let’s Call This “One To Many.”Let me back up a bit and explain how this relates to organic traffic still works.
I won’t go too deep into my journey, as I’ve shared it multiple times on the podcast. You can get a snapshot of that on my About page.
Over the last 16 years, I spent the first 10 years as ‘The WordPress Chick,’ pivoted to my personal brand, started focusing on content marketing, launched a content planner (with a strategy, not a fill-in-the-blank), added email marketing and newsletters to the mix, and have come back to content marketing as my core focus.
My ‘complementary’ categories to content marketing are email & newsletters and using AI for content marketing.
Now, let’s talk a bit about social media.
Which I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with.
Because of the clarity I’ve gained with my ONE thing (for now, let’s call it Core Content), I’ve jumped back in full force and am happily gaining some traction and, thankfully, traffic.
I attribute the results I’m getting to a few things:
Not starting from scratchHaving a presence on most platforms (regardless of recent engagement)LOVING what I’m doing againThis isn’t to say you can’t start from scratch and get results because, of course, you can.
It just might take a little longer.
But here’s the thing: time is going to pass whether you do the work or not, so you may as well do it now.
And the work I’m referring to is creating, publishing, and promoting your content.
Which will always differentiate you from people who want to do things quickly and easily. Especially with AI…
I LOVE using AI in my business – but I also know what I’m doing, who I’m talking to, how I want to serve them, and what my business goals are.
I’m not under any illusion that AI can replace my voice.
What it can do is help me...
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There is something so absolutely freeing about getting older.
I was texting with a friend in Costa Rica the other day to set up a time to chat. I had been hoping to go down in April to bring some stuff down before my move in July, but with my Dad selling his house, I decided not to.
In our text conversation, we both said that we would put it on our calendars and put sticky notes everywhere so we didn’t forget. Last time we set a time to chat, we both spaced.
I don’t think much about how much time and energy I’ve spent worrying about things that don’t matter. That’s a complete waste.
I do, however, make conscious decisions every day to choose my thoughts. To make today different than yesterday.
I was listening to a video with Dr. Joe Dispenza (who is amazing, by the way, if you’re remotely interested in neuroscience and being able to change your life with your thoughts), and he was saying that the hardest thing to do is to make sure you don’t think the same thoughts you had yesterday. 🤯
The absolute best way to do this is to tune out the things that no longer serve you.
I have always been fairly transparent about what I’m doing in my business, including sharing the challenges and struggles.
In fact, I’ve probably been more transparent about those than the wins.
God forbid I toot my own horn.
As I’ve gotten older and hit, ahem, mid-life (no one tells you that no matter how old you are, you still feel like a younger version of yourself), I’ve come to the realization that I better start tooting my own horn.
Especially as a woman.
In addition to learning to be fiercely protective of my goals and dreams, I’ve also become fiercely indifferent to others’ opinions.
My old self included
If I can share my lessons, challenges, and hell, yes, my wins… and it inspires even one person on their journey, it’s worth it.
It’s probably also because I feel that so much of what we’ve been taught and is accepted in society has been structured around what works for men.
It’s bullshit.
But I don’t want to go sideways here with any of that. All it will do is piss me off and get me worked up, which doesn’t help anyone.
What I want to focus on in this episode is the massive progress, clarity, and focus I have in my business in hopes that it will inspire you to do the same.
What Old Me Would Have Been Embarrassed to Admit
Trying to summarize this in one clear statement isn’t as easy as I thought, but I want to give you something so you know where this episode is going.
It feels like I FINALLY “Get it.”
As in, I’m finally fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together in order to create a business I love on my terms and get it working like a well-oiled machine.
And yes.
It’s taken 16 years to get here.
This is probably also why I’ve adopted the phrase “It takes what it takes” (seriously, good quotes hit my soul deeply).
This isn’t to say that I’ve been waffling for sixteen years or didn’t know what I was doing. I truly believe that everything I’ve done had a purpose and brought me to exactly where I am today, which, quite frankly, is FIYAH.
I did a visual of my journey in 2022 and since I have more to add to it, for now, here’s a quick synopsis of my timeline 👇:
March 2008
Started my business and launched ‘The WordPress Chick’ – blogging and building websites.
Spring 2013
Launched “The WPChick Podcast,” created an outsourcing company, and started coaching.
Summer 2016
Created the Facebook Group, Content Creators and start pivoting more into Content Marketing (less WordPress)
Summer 2018
Pivoted to my personal brand, redirect WPChick to KimDoyal.com
Fall 2018
Partner with a friend to launch an e-commerce brand and physical content...
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Someone Has To Go First.
I don’t remember where I heard that (or read it), but it certainly struck a nerve.
I wrote it down because I knew it would be a podcast episode the minute I read it.
Before we go into that, though, let’s do a quick catch-up and recap, shall we?
I’m kind of tripping out that we’re almost halfway through March already.
Mind you, I’m not complaining. I looked at the weather for the next ten days, and after a couple of days of potential showers and clouds, it’s all blue skies, sunshine, and warmer weather (mid to upper 60s).
I feel like I’ve been quiet lately because I had the “Everything is Content” episodes ready to go (even if the last two didn’t go out when I had hoped).
I’m going to do a full break-down of Everything is Content now that I’ve:
Published the email series and blog postPublished the email series as videos and podcast episodesRepublished the series on MediumI hosted my first live workshopI am about to offer the first live cohortThis is all part of a long-term strategy for me, and hot damn if it isn’t working.
The gas is about to be poured on this using Laurel Portié’s $ 5-a-day ad strategy, and I’m beyond excited to see how this all unfolds.
On the personal side of things…
I shared that I’ll be moving back to Costa Rica this summer sometime last month (maybe that’s why I’m tripping out that it’s mid-March already), and as the time gets closer, I’m getting more and more excited.
But there’s a lot to do in the meantime.
My Dad has finally decided to list his house for sale and is looking at moving down to the city where my siblings live (the same city where I raised my kids). We’re hoping to get the house up for sale before the end of the month.
Which means decluttering and getting the house ready for staging, photos, and viewings.
Keep in mind there are 56 years of stuff in this house. 😳
We’ve already started the process, and my siblings are coming up to help, so we should be able to knock things out by the end of this weekend.
And between you and I… I’m kind of hoping I’m not here for the actual move. I have done so much moving in the past five years I wouldn’t mind skipping this one (although I’ll be doing a lot of packing and purging before I leave).
That’s the beauty of moving back to Costa Rica... all I have to do is take my clothes, my dog, my computer, and any decor I want for my place. It’s completely furnished (although I will be hauling another mattress down).
OK… I think we’re all caught up now.
Let’s Get Into “Someone Has To Go First”First, what I’m referring to here isn’t about being ‘first to market’ or ‘first to adopt’ (although I do think the ‘first to adopt’ comes into play here).
This is specifically related to content and the creator economy as we know it today.
When I was getting started in 2008, it felt like everyone was new to the online marketing space, and we were all figuring it out as a collective.
Of course, some direct-response marketers were much more seasoned and had brought their offline skills online, but for the most part, it was a fairly new space at the time.
Social media was new, blogging was still new, and...
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As we wrap up our incredible journey through the "Everything is Content" series, I want to take a moment to reflect on the profound concept we're diving into today: zigging when everyone else is zagging. Throughout this series, we've explored various facets of content creation, but today, we're tackling the essence of differentiation and the power of personalization in our content strategies.
Imagine walking into a room full of people all moving in unison, like a perfectly choreographed dance. Now, picture yourself moving to a different rhythm, creating your own steps, and standing out. That's what we're talking about today. In a world saturated with content, being the one who dares to be different isn't just brave; it's necessary.
Why do we zig when others zag? Because, at the core of every successful content strategy, there's a unique voice, a distinct perspective, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. It's about finding what resonates with you and, by extension, connecting more deeply with your audience.
During this series, we've established that all platforms work, all strategies can be effective, but the magic happens when you align your content creation with your personal passion, consistency, and the joy of sharing your story. This alignment isn't just about being different for the sake of it; it's about embracing what works for you and amplifying it.
Let's debunk a common myth: the idea that certain marketing strategies or platforms are "dead." You've heard it before – "Email marketing is dead," "Blogs are out," "Social media is oversaturated." Here's the truth – for every strategy declared extinct, there's someone out there proving it wrong, thriving and creating impactful, meaningful content. The key is not in the platform or the strategy itself but in how you use it to convey your unique message and connect with your audience.
Consider this: While some may argue that ad costs are soaring and traditional methods are fading, I've seen friends launch successful businesses solely through Facebook ads, targeting cold traffic with innovative, low-cost strategies that captivate and convert. Their secret? Understanding their audience, refining their offer, and staying true to their vision.
Moreover, the debate between long-form and short-form content, between videos and podcasts, between blogging and microblogging, often misses the point. The medium is just a vessel; your content's heart and soul come from your personal experience, your voice, and your passion.
So, how do you find your unique path in this crowded content landscape? Start by choosing one or two types of content that feel natural to you. Commit to creating consistently, whether it's through Instagram reels, blog posts, podcasts, or any medium that sparks joy in you. Give it time, be patient, and watch as your unique voice starts to resonate with an audience that's been yearning for something different, something authentically you.
Remember, the goal isn't to churn out content for the sake of visibility. It's about creating content that matters, content that makes a difference in someone's life, even if it's just one person. As we've explored throughout this series, "Everything is Content" isn't just a catchy phrase; it's a mindset, a reminder that our stories, experiences, and insights are valuable and deserve to be shared.
As we conclude this special series, I invite you to join me in embracing the power of personal content creation. Let's not just follow the trends; let's set them. Let's not just create content; let's create connections. And most importantly, let's remember that in a world where everyone is zagging, the ziggers are not just seen – they're remembered, celebrated, and followed.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Here's to creating content that's as unique as you are, to finding your voice in the cacophony, and to the incredible journey of zigging when the world...
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Kim [00:00:00]:
Hey, guys. Welcome back to part 4 of this special series called Everything is Content. First of all, thank you so much for listening this far this week. And if you haven't listened to the first three, I highly recommend them because they all kind of build on each other. But today, we're gonna talk about documenting. We're gonna talk about documenting with a little bit of a twist. And if you've not registered yet, I am hosting a live Everything is Content workshop next week, March 6th at 11 AM Pacific time. Or if you can't attend live, of course, there will be a recording.
Kim [00:00:32]:
And if you've reached this or listened to this, after March 6th, you can still get the on demand workshop. Alright, guys. That's it for now. Let's jump into today's episode. Hey there, it's Kim Doyal, and welcome to my show, where digital marketing meets real stories, experiences, and strategies. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what's working and not working in my business, as well as other experts who show up and share their stories. As much as I love talking about marketing principles and tactics, we'll dig a little deeper with mindset and explore what's required to create a business you love on your terms that also supports your life. I wanna help you understand the why behind the how.
Kim [00:01:13]:
Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just dipping your toes in, remember that marketing is a journey, and the goal is to enjoy it. My desire is to guide you on your journey and remind you that no matter what life throws at you, you've got this. Alright, guys. Welcome back to video 4 of the everything is content series. Now today, we're gonna talk about documenting, but with a little bit of a twist. And I believe I I I'm gonna quote Gary v as saying document, don't create. I don't know if he's the originator of the statement. I'm gonna assume he is, but, and to some extent, I agree.
Kim [00:01:49]:
But unless you're you're somebody like Gary v or you have someone like Gary v. What was his his video guy's name was d rock? I don't know if he still does. I'm assuming he does, because he's pretty he's consistent. Right? When he believes in a philosophy, he's he sticks with it, and it's worked well for him. And I like him. He's a nice guy. I met him in an elevator one time, you guys. Just me and him.
Kim [00:02:13]:
He took a selfie. I didn't have my phone, and he emailed it to me. So he really is a nice person in real life, too. Anyways, for me, my day-to-day life looks a little bit boring. Even when I was in Costa Rica, and moving back there, I intend to be a little more interesting regarding what I share behind the scenes. But, you know, my day-to-day looks a little bit boring. So the only difference might be what I wear unless I decide to record 4 or 5 videos in a row, all in the same hoodie, but so be it. You know, people would be bored watching that.
Kim [00:02:48]:
So I wanna give you an example of something I'm documenting, and then the twist that I intend to put on this piece of content directly becomes it's because it's gonna become a profitable asset. And so I recently shared with my email list that I will move from Convertkit to Beehive for my email marketing. I made this decision just a couple of weeks ago, and I shared in an email that I was gonna do it, and that it would be done in phases. And so I'll go way more in-depth into the post but I have loved beehives since they first came out, but it didn't have the capabilities of doing a lot of stuff that you need email marketing to do. Like, I mean, you could do a solo broadcast, but at the same time, the tagging and the segments and automations and stuff. However, a lot of that is changing, and it just was not a full-blown robust email service provider. And out of the gate, it was incredible to publish newsletters, but there were just too many...
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Unleashing the Power of Content Karma in Your StrategyEmbracing the Concept of Content Karma
Hey, everyone! Welcome back to the third installment of our "Everything is Content" series. Today, we're diving into a concept I'm super excited about—let's call it "content karma" for now. It's inspired by Matthew Dicks' enlightening book, "Storyworthy," which revolutionized my view on storytelling and content creation. The idea is simple yet powerful: We're all storytellers, and by harnessing this innate skill, we can endlessly craft engaging content.
Why Highlighting Others Works WondersHighlighting and sharing others' work has been a cornerstone of my journey, especially during my early days as the WordPress Chick. By focusing on what others were doing, I not only carved out my niche but also discovered a formula for content creation that felt both comfortable and authentic. Launching a podcast became a turning point, allowing me to amplify others' voices and, in turn, my own. This approach is not just about creating content—it's about building connections and community.
A Project Close to My HeartI'm currently working on a special podcast series aimed at amplifying women's voices in finance and entrepreneurship. The goal is to share their impactful messages with my audience, much like how we share our favorite novels or movies with friends. This project will result in a rich tapestry of content, including podcasts, videos, blog posts, and social campaigns, all designed to spread their invaluable insights.
How You Can Make Your Own Value DepositsCreating value deposits, or what I like to call "content karma," is about sharing, highlighting, and promoting the work of others. Here are some ways you can start making your own deposits:
Roundup Lists: Compile lists of people, tools, and resources that have influenced you.Mentors: Share the work of both official and unofficial mentors whose teachings have impacted your journey.Content Sharing: Promote content that resonates with you, whether it's through newsletters, social media, or personal recommendations.Engagement: Actively engage with others' content to help increase its visibility.
The Ripple Effect of GivingBy focusing on giving rather than receiving, you create a win-win situation: your audience gains valuable insights, and you help boost the visibility of others within your community. This ethos of goodwill, or content karma, ensures that your efforts will eventually come back to you tenfold.
Looking AheadAs we continue our series, remember that in the realm of content creation, everything—and everyone—is worth celebrating. Stay tuned for our next discussion on documenting with a twist, and let's keep spreading those value deposits far and wide.
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Telling Your Stories
When Content Becomes Personal: My Journey Through Storytelling
I’m thrilled to dive deep into a topic that’s close to my heart and crucial for creators, coaches, and course creators everywhere: the power of personal storytelling in content creation.
In the world of copy and content, there’s a prevailing notion that it’s all about the reader, not about us, the creators.
But let’s face it, that’s only half the story.
The truth is, we’re in the business of connection, of building relationships with our audience through the stories we share, the experiences we recount, and the vulnerabilities we expose.
I’ve Always Believed In The Magnetic Pull Of Personal Stories.They’re the threads that weave the fabric of our connections, making our audience feel seen, heard, and understood. That’s why I’ve anchored my content creation around a core content value: making people feel better for having engaged with my content.
Whether through learning something new, enjoying a moment of levity, or feeling a heart-to-heart connection, it’s about enriching the lives of those who stumble upon my work.
Take, for example, my journey through one of life’s harshest realities: loss.
In 2003, life threw me a curveball that would forever change my trajectory. I was widowed at 32, left to navigate the world as a single mother of two small children (my kids were 6 & 2 when their Dad died).
This part of my story, a marker of my resilience and transformation, was something I initially kept close to my chest, mentioned briefly on my About page, yet it was a pivotal chapter in my life.
It wasn’t until 2017, on the anniversary of my husband’s death, that I chose to share this deeply personal story with my audience in an email titled “In Loving Memory and a Personal Message of Hope.”
The outpouring of responses was overwhelming, a testament to the power of vulnerability in forging deeper connections. This experience taught me a valuable lesson: our stories, no matter how often we’ve shared them, are always new to someone in our audience.
They Provide Hope And Remind Us That We’re Not Alone In Our Struggles.But sharing personal stories is not about airing every detail of our lives; it’s about finding the balance between personal and private. It’s about sharing those moments that illuminate our humanity, that make us relatable, that show we’re more alike than we are different.
For instance, a seemingly trivial incident like falling down the stairs while distracted by my phone became a metaphor for the importance of staying present, of paying attention to what’s right in front of us.
The ‘falling-down-the-stairs’ story I shared with my audience wasn’t just a humorous anecdote; it was a reflection on mindfulness in both life and business.
You might be wondering, what was the whole point of that email?
Sure, there was a pivot and a call to action—though I can’t quite recall what it was, whether it was to click through to a podcast, a blog post, or an offer. The real value, however, lies in the fact that we’re all human.
I don’t take myself too seriously, and that aspect of my personality makes me more relatable and approachable.
Sharing personal stories and experiences is invaluable because, like many of you, I find myself far more creative when I’m inspired or feel a genuine connection. While keyword-based articles, how-to guides, and case studies certainly have their place in content creation—a place that’s not disappearing anytime soon—I believe their presentation will evolve with AI.
It’s crucial to remember that you are the differentiator in everything you...
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Hey, guys. What's going on before we get into today's episode? This is a special series that I'm doing this week. It's a 5 part series based on Everything is Content. Now you might remember, I don't know, a month and a half ago, 6 episodes or so ago, I did an episode on Everything is Content 2.0. And I'll link to that in the show notes for this. But I'm actually hosting an Everything is Content workshop, and so this is kind of a preview for that. This was a 5 part email series that I have since turned into videos, and now I'm doing this as a podcast. So you'll get a taste of the 5 part framework.
I know this sounds a little meta, and we're getting a little into the matrix here, but I watch how I do this, but this is a taste of the framework itself. And again, you can go to kimdoyal.com/eicworkshop if you wanna join me in the live workshop I'm doing. It is on Wednesday, March 6th. So, depending on when you're listening to this, if if that date has come and gone, then I'm gonna be continuing to either do this live or you'll be able to just get the workshop itself. Again, go to kimdoyal.com/eicworkshop. Alright, now here is part 1 of Everything is Content. Hey there. It's Kim Doyal, and welcome to my show where digital marketing meets real stories, experiences, and strategies.
You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what's working and not working in my business, as well as other experts who show up and share their stories. As much as I love talking about tangible marketing principles and tactics, we'll dig a little deeper with the mindset and explore what's required to create a business you love on your terms that also supports your life. I wanna help you understand the why behind the how. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just dipping your toes in, remember that marketing is a journey, and the goal is to enjoy it. My desire is to guide you on your journey and remind you that no matter what life throws at you, you've got this. Hey, guys. What's up? Kim Doyal here, and I'm doing a 5 part series called Everything is Content. Now, I came up with the hashtag Everything is Content back in 2016.
I'm not going to repeat that whole story here. Still, if you want a little more behind-the-scenes of how that came about, I did a whole podcast episode recently, and it was Everything is Content 2.0, which is an easy guide to getting started, you know, got to use those, what you call it, good headlines, right? But this is all based on a 5 part email series where I'm giving actual examples of everything as content to show you how you can apply this to your own business and how it can translate into conversions, whether that's leads or sales. Now, we're going to go a little bit deeper with this. I'm also working on an ebook that I hope should be done within a month or so. I might do an audio version because I clearly love doing this, but these are what I do with this, so let me back up a little bit. So, Everything is Content is based on the idea that I'm one who I hate keyword research. I know there's value in SEO. I'm not negating that at all, but with AI, I feel like that's kind of a race to the bottom, and who knows where it's going to be a year from now? But my whole goal with Everything is Content is to get people just to start creating, right? And seeing that there are content ideas all around us that fit under this umbrella in our business.
You don't need to only talk about email marketing or for me, email marketing or content marketing. Right? Or I love using AI for content, but not necessarily to write for me. There's a whole other marketing element that I use it for. But sometimes I want to talk about, hey, guess what? I'm moving back to Costa Rica. I am. Or, you know what? This is what I do when I feel out of alignment. Or, this is how I ground myself each day. So, all of those are under the umbrella of who I am in my business.
That's where everything is content comes into play. All of our...
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00:00 Sending random rants, reconnecting with authenticity. China.
05:31 Embracing ignorance, shifting perspective, and embracing fun.
09:13 Balancing organic and paid traffic for brand.
11:49 Challenges with apps integration, user demands, burnout.
15:38 Frustration with big companies and their rules.
17:23 Generic ebook platform with AI and marketing features.
22:43 Seeking genuine connections, not just building tools.
23:53 Favor real connections over forced opt-ins.
29:14 Long journey to clarity and productivity.
32:46 Custom GPT creation for sales page writing.
33:34 Task manager helps stay on track, API potential.
38:28 AI tool not useful, unclear beneficial use case.
42:15 Draft article based on conversations, structure content.
44:29 Focus on actionable, personalized content for improvement.
49:51 Simplify your website strategy, focus on writing.
51:10 Newcomers face overwhelming and confusing landscape.
53:54 Big platforms need better customer support. Thanks!
Kim [00:00:00]:
Hey there. It's Kim Doyal, and welcome to my show where digital marketing meets real stories, experiences, and strategies. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what's working and not working in my business, as well as other experts who show up and share their stories. As much as I love talking about tangible marketing principles and tactics, we'll dig a little deeper with mindset and explore what's required to create a business you love on your terms that also supports your life. I wanna help you understand the why behind the how. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just dipping your toes in, remember that marketing is a journey, and the goal is to enjoy it. My desire is to guide you on your journey and remind you that no matter what life throws at you, you've got this. Hey.
Kim [00:00:44]:
What's going on, everybody? Welcome to another episode of the Kim Doyal Show. It's been a while since I've done a I was gonna say live interview, but it's live for us. So we'll go ahead and run with that. And I'm excited because I think this conversation is gonna go in directions that neither of us are really aware of, but it's gonna be really fun. My guest today is Addison Best. So first of all, Addison, thank you so much for being here.
Addison [00:01:06]:
Well, thank you for having me, Kim. It's I think we talked about a little bit before this started. I haven't spoken to anybody in, I feel like, a decade. I used to have an English learning podcast with my brother, but that was all audio. Now, I'm just looking in my camera, and I feel like a deer in headlights, and I'm just kind of like, oh, wait. This is how I look? And I'm kind of freaked out, but I'm gonna try to calm down and carry on, I guess.
Kim [00:01:30]:
Yeah. Well, you know what's funny is it's almost like because I wanna do the eye contact thing, I'm like, well, I'll just go ahead and look at the camera and not worry about seeing myself or whatever. But, yeah. No. This is gonna be fun because first of all, for a little backstory about, you know, Addison had reached out to me. And this just goes to show you guys in the fall, and I was not getting the notifications from Gravity Forms. So it was like, oh my god. I've missed all these but before we get into a lot of the meat of what we wanna talk about, which we're gonna kinda go down this AI and and the impact it has on content and email, I love the backstory, Addison.
Kim [00:02:12]:
So if you could share your backstory with listeners, that would be great.
Addison [00:02:14]:
Well, it's funny. Yeah. I've been sending Kim, random emails that are kinda rants recently, so I didn't even know if she was getting it or she thought this guy's a bit nuts or whatever she was thinking. But I do it anyway because I'm trying to get back to my
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Simplifying your business to increase sales might seem counterintuitive, but it’s far from it.
The funny thing is if someone had told me five years ago that I wanted to simplify my business, I’m pretty sure I would have disagreed with them.
I was reminded of this last weekend while working on my new site.
I’m using KadenceWP (which I absolutely LOVE), and because it’s been a long time since I’ve done a new theme, I forgot about the domino effect that happens when you start touching things.
The domino effect is when you touch one thing; it creates a ripple effect (and multiple dominos start falling that have to be dealt with).
Here’s what I mean:
I started with the homepage of my site and have two areas that highlight what I do and how people can work with me.
The problem with these is that since they’re only highlights, there’s a learn more button that people click on to go deeper.
So everything from the homepage that has a “learn more” button needs an additional page (I know, I’m stating the obvious, but go along with me).
I’ve been working on the site for a while, so it’s been a process. I didn’t create a sitemap first (which would have solved some of this), but I also have a lot of pages and content on my site that I need to go through to delete or update.
I’ve also gotten some much-needed clarity about my business over the last few months, so things have changed slightly.
It wasn’t until listening to a podcast after working on the site (and internal pages that need to be linked to) that I realized I was probably making things more complicated than they needed to be.
I was listening to the podcast episode on the ‘Get Paid Podcast’ with Clair Pelletreau. She was interviewing a woman I hadn’t heard of named Kirsten Roldan.
First, I LOVE discovering new people (anyone else go down the rabbit hole when they listen to podcasts?), and I LOVE this woman. She made $350k in her FIRST year in business!
Transform Ideas Into Inspired Action: Subscribe to the SPARK
Yes, it was her first year.
The two things I love about her:
She wants people to find peace in their business and stop complicating thingsShe does that primarily through teaching email marketing and business systemsShe had me at email.
When I went to her website to check things out, I realized she only had a few offers.
She has an agency (first offer, DFY) and two primary offers.
That’s it.
Talk about simple, right?
Which made me think about my site and offers.
I do coaching and have courses. Easy enough, right?
Well… I’m not so sure.
All the courses I’ll be listing are already created and are relative to everything I do (email, content, newsletters, AI).
And I’m only selling things that are recent-ish.
But…the bigger question is whether or not this aligns with my bigger goals and where I want to be a year from now.
Because of this, I realized I needed to edit the homepage… again.
This isn’t a big deal because I’m essentially combining two things (Newsletters & Email Marketing) and combining them into one (I know, duh).
So, it...
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There’s nothing like pissy internet trolls to help you get crystal clear about who you engage with and that you don’t owe anybody anything.
Not to mention the joy of choosing to block these people from your life.
My friend Karen Michaels (a brilliant social media strategist) repeatedly repeats that it’s vitally as important to curate your feeds as it is to post and engage.
I won’t get into a bunch of details here- because the entire exchange was, quite frankly, a little wackadoodle. I re-posted something on Facebook about the Barbie snub of Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie not being nominated for Best Director or Best Actress.
The FB repost was a quote from Bette Midler.
To which a friend replied that it was typical of Amercians to lie and omit only to advance a narrative.
Um… excuse me?
What I should have done was delete him and block him immediately. But because this person was a “friend” (we’ve had actual conversations on Zoom, I’ve interviewed him, etc.), I was pretty respectful in my response.
Why a white male from Canada has a dog in the fight when it comes to American women feeling this was unjust (and just a little bit ironic considering the context of the movie) is beyond me.
Little fact for you: In the 100 years of the Academy Awards, only EIGHT females have been nominated for director, with only three winnings.
Either way, it was a ridiculous exchange and out of left field. After I deleted all of his comments and blocked him, all I could think was that this person must have something deeper going on and decided to pick a fight.
I’m all for differing opinions, provided you can be respectful.
Transform Ideas into Inspired Action: Subscribe to the SPARKThe implication was also that because the movie received other awards, people (i.e., women) shouldn’t be upset.
Here’s the thing: I’m at a point in my life when I’m done trying to appease idiots. I don’t need to justify or explain myself to anyone.
That being said, I’m pretty sure social media isn’t the place where meaningful change is going to happen, especially with someone shows up just to be a dick.
It makes me think of the Maya Angelou quote:
“When someone shows you who they are the first time, believe them.”Maya AngelouHere’s another internet troll story from last week that happened with a friend.
I’m going to be a little cryptic since it’s not my personal story, but you’ll get the gist of it.
A friend posted on Twitter that he was deleting a large quantify of cold subscribers from his email list that had come through one specific growth strategy, then asked if people could guess what it was.
Someone from a company that sells this growth strategy jumped in with what appeared to be an attempt at a diplomatic reply, only to end up basically blaming the issue on the creator/business owner not having a good onboarding sequence.
Sigh.
Huge opportunity missed for creating a conversation about doing better.
My friend is pretty brilliant when it comes to email marketing, growth, data, and automations.
By the way, the growth strategy that was called out was referral programs.
I’ll go on the record now and say that if these programs don’t improve, in other...
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There is nothing like a little avoidance to force your hand on getting some much-needed clarity.
Especially when the priority is cash.
Let me back up a little and share what brought me here.
I spent a lot of last year trying to remove things from my business, or so I thought.
On one hand, I created some incredibly solid habits that have stuck, but I feel like I still haven’t moved the needle on things that will have the biggest impact on my business, at least not as much as I had hoped.
And honestly, who’s to say what’s enough?
Could I have done more?
Sure.
We always can.
But I also know that last year was a lot. Being back in California, my Dad’s health challenges, and more time with family & friends (which was great, but when everything is a 2-hour drive, one way, it can throw your schedule for a loop), and my own recovery from back surgery made for a long year.
So, even though my goal was to simplify and remove things, I can’t say I was super successful.
I’ve accepted the fact that part of who I am is about exploring new ideas. This is fine, provided I keep the new ideas in the “exploring stage” and not in the “pivot and implement” stage.
The two things (outside of life in general), that threw me off my path were AI and then hosting the retreat in Costa Rica.
Neither of which I regret. Both were totally worth it, but both brought up deeper questions and a certain amount of evaluating what I want my business to look like.
But let’s not go sideways with that.
This episode is how I realized I was more frustrated than I thought and how I found the much-needed clarity I didn’t even know I needed.
Which will lead to more cash flow.
Avoidance At Its Finest
Unless I’m out of town or have other plans, I usually do a little work every Sunday just to get ahead of my week.
I look at my calendar, plan my week out, and try to get ahead of a few things if I’m in the mood.
This past Sunday started out like every other Sunday that I chose to work, but after my first cup of coffee, I couldn’t get into any sort of rhythm.
I found myself going from thing to thing and then from one idea to the next.
Then, I had the brilliant idea that I should “create a plan.”
I know you know what kind of plan I’m talking about. One of those “big picture” plans that looks pretty, presents itself as the ultimate organization for a “beautiful mind,” and represents all things fabulous about your business.
But in reality… it’s just a HUGE distraction.
It’s the epitome of activity disguising itself as productivity.
Even though I wasn’t sure what to do next, there was no fooling me this time. I knew that would be a waste of time, and I wouldn’t be any clearer on what was going on.
So… what did I do?
I stepped away from everything for a while.
Then it hit me.
I didn’t need to make a plan to accomplish everything; I needed to do a brain dump, pick my top 3 priorities, and then make a list of things I could “put aside” for a while.
Here’s what that looked like:
Here are the categories of my brain dump:
WebsiteContentHigh LevelPaid TrafficCoursesCoachingCommunityPrioritiesHopefully this won’t be too boring, but I’m going to share what I scribbled under each of these and will go into more detail in the podcast, and then I’ll explain the three priorities.
Website:Switch to my new theme (Kadence, which I LOVE)Finish copyAdd shopUpdate coaching & courses pagesNew tools & resource pageCheck SEO & Google indexing, update older content for SEO (if relevant to current content)
ContentPodcast: schedule... -
Choose one primary marketing objective.
And it should be email; the rest is just icing on the cake.
But, before we get into that…
One thing that has me really excited about the New Year and 2024, in general, is that there seems to be a broad desire in the marketing space for things to change.
Hallelujah!
A few things have contributed to this.
The last 3+ years have been a little nuts across the globe, which in turn has made people feel weary. Of course, it’s not all been gloom and doom, even if we have to make a conscious effort to seek out what’s good (which is totally worth it).
But I think we can all agree that it’s “been a lot.”
In terms of the digital marketing/creator space, the bottom line is that the space has matured.
People are more educated about how everything works; they’re burnt out from hype promises, big launches, and the idea that you have to strive towards millions (and no judgment if that’s what you want, ya’ girl does, but you won’t see me driving any lambos or posting pictures of mansions).
With a massive distrust of government and media, we’re learning to rely on ourselves.
Which is a beautiful thing because that’s where real strength comes from.
I’ve seen a lot of New Year’s posts about people wanting to remove things as opposed to “kicking ass and taking names” (something I’ve said myself on more than one occasion).
Every year, I choose a new word. I chose my word for 2024 in December of last year. This is something that’s sacred to me and isn’t something that I have any desire to share, but rest assured it’s a positive word.
This year, I’ve also chosen a “money” word.
I was listening to a podcast episode with Kendall Summerhawk yesterday, and she explained how she does this and what her word is/has been. She suggested the first word that comes to mind (and it’s ONE word, not a phrase or sentence).
The first word that came to mind for me?
EaseWhich is something I want across all areas of my life.
You might be thinking that this is something most people want – and to a certain extent, I agree. Of course, most people want more ease.
But more often than not, they don’t want to change anything or do anything to achieve it.
My therapist said she read something that said that 90% of people don’t want to change. 🤯
Which is a little mind-blowing to me.
When you’re hardwired or have spent the last 30 years constantly learning and growing, it’s a hard concept to grasp.
At the same time, I get it. Unless you’ve realized there is another way to do things (to live, to be, to feel, to earn, etc.), how do you know what’s possible?
This is why I’ve started signing off my emails with “Stay curious.”
Most entrepreneurs I know are curious, they do want something different or they wouldn’t be in business for themselves. And now even the ‘different’ looks different.
Back to ease and how that translates to money.
For as long as I can remember, money has felt hard for me.
My parents raised my siblings and me with incredible work ethics (and were both hard workers their whole lives. My dad still has a hard time doing “nothing”).
I had no other concept of earning or having money other than you had to “work hard.”
No one taught us (or them) about compound interest, investments, and the role money played in our lives (and here I am, at 53, doing a deep dive on ALL of this).
It’s not that any of these are new concepts to me at this stage in my life, but I guess we don’t “get it” until we get
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Lessons Learned and Finding My Voice Again resonated much more than doing a typical year-in-review post (at least how I’ve done them in the past).
And for what it’s worth, that’s kind of the theme for this next year: both with business and my life.
In other words, doing things differently.
Initially, I was excited to do a year-in-review podcast. I’ve always enjoyed doing my look back on the year and seeing what worked, what didn’t, and how that would impact the coming year.
So much happened in 2023 that much of it feels a bit like a blur.
In so many ways, the year really felt like “a lot.”
The contrast I experienced in moving back to California from Costa Rica felt overwhelming at times.
The first contrast might seem obvious, and that was the weather.
Having grown up and spent the majority of my adult life in the Bay Area, I didn’t think it would have such an impact on me, but it did. It didn’t help that I moved back during a crazy, heavy winter with massive snow (I’ve been at my Dad’s since moving back, and it’s about an hour southeast of Lake Tahoe).
Beyond my short stint and one winter in Boise, Idaho, I’ve never lived in the snow.
I have zero intention of doing that again when I leave here.
I also forgot how incredibly dry it is here. Costa Rica is humid, but it’s not like Orlando. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I acclimated to that climate after a while. Not to mention, my skin felt fantastic.
As much as I missed the seasons (to the extent that Northern California actually has seasons), winter is the season I like the least.
Snow is pretty, and I love how quiet it makes everything, but I’d be fine if my only experience of snow moving forward were a weekend visit.
The Biggest Adjustment of All
People.
My Dad will be 80 this year, and his health isn’t all that great. You wouldn’t look at him and think so, but he has a handful of issues (his heart is the main issue) that are somewhat serious. His health and missing family are the primary reason I moved back.
The secondary reason was that the last year there was more trying than I realized. I had visitors every month for nine months, with only one month break during that time.
As much as I was super appreciative that people came to visit, it interrupted my life and work in a way that impacted my income and my energy (again, hadn’t really realized this while I was experiencing it). All my guests were people who were close to me, so it wasn’t like they were difficult.
This just validated what I already knew about myself, and am going to be firm about in the future. I require a good chunk of time to myself. Boundaries are key for me – regardless of whether they make sense to other people or not.
It took a few “come to Jesus” moments with my Dad also for him to “get” that just because I’m at home working doesn’t mean I’m available for midday chats, errands, questions, or whatever else he thinks of. That being said, it’s a good thing I did come back.
We had three trips to the ER this year (all via an ambulance) because of his health. My siblings are both two hours away so my Dad would have been on his own until...
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Do you want to Grow and scale in 2024?
This episode is for you.
I know you might be thinking, “Um… duh Kim, who doesn’t.”
But I will take this in a different direction than you might expect. At least compared to trite advice, you might see popping up at this time of year.
Like everything I’m doing moving forward, this episode is going to be a mix of things that speak to both the tangible (tasks) and intangible (thoughts, beliefs, mindset).
I’ll share the only way to grow and scale in 2024; then I’m going to share a story with you that was the inspiration for this episode.
The point of sharing the inspiration is to piggyback on the last episode, “Everything Is Content, 2.0.” I want you to start finding content ideas and inspiration from all areas of your life.
So first, here’s the ONLY way to grow and scale in 2024:
Take complete and total responsibility for everything in your life.
Doesn’t sound very exciting, does it?
Contrary to how that might feel when you hear it, I promise you that when you truly step into owning responsibility for everything in your life, it creates massive freedom, which then opens all kinds of doors.
Besides showing you that “Everything Is Content,” the story that led to the inspiration for this episode is also an example of me walking the walk.
Because it’s going to be much less about the contrast that showed up and much more about how I caught myself playing the victim, feeding old beliefs, and then stopping that bullshit as soon as I realized what I was doing.
Here’s what happened.
I recently had a conflict with someone I love very much.
It went sideways, some heated things were said, and then a resolution was reached (sounds so formal, but truly, the details aren’t what matters here).
Like all of us, I did the normal regurgitation of things in my head.
You know what I’m talking about… “I should have said this, yea, but, if only, blah, blah, blah.”
After having returned home from the holiday and a fairly good night’s sleep, although not enough, I found myself rehashing things within minutes of waking up.
Two things to note here: even though I was home and had slept pretty well, it was less sleep than I needed, and I was pretty worn out from the previous four days. Because I woke up earlier than I wanted to, in some ways, I ‘woke up on the wrong side of the bed.’
The house was pretty cold (52), so I got to work to get a fire going right away after getting the kettle going for my coffee (I use a French Press and enjoy this slower process of brewing my coffee in the morning).
While I was doing all of this, my mind started going a million miles a minute.
Replaying the conflict, wishing I had said things differently (or not at all), and really working myself up.
It only took me about 30 minutes, but it was like someone had splashed cold water on my face.
I instantly thought, “What the hell are you doing to yourself?”
Which was then followed by a firm and resounding “Fuck this!”
I realized how quickly my ego had jumped in to take the wheel, and I was feeding that little shit as though I was a helpless victim to what was going on in my own mind (humans really are fascinating creatures!).
I’ll come back to this realization in a moment, but before that, I’m going to get a little meta here, and I want to share why this victim realization was so powerful to me.
The first time anyone called me a victim was in 2011.
It was my therapist/mentor (who I still speak...
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I came up with Everything Is Content back in 2016.
I turned it into a hashtag: #everythingiscontent, and now you can find that hashtag used across social media. Was I the original creator of that hashtag? Who knows, but when I started using it, you couldn’t search it.
I created it because I discovered how incredibly true it was.
This was after I had been writing as The WordPress Chick for eight years and knew I was moving towards pivoting to my personal brand.
Two primary factors contributed to growing my personal brand, even before I made it official. Both were because of writing:
My podcast (The WPChick Podcast => The Kim Doyal Show)My ‘almost daily’ emailsI’m going to go more in-depth with both, so sit tight.
I’ve said this before, and it’s a hill I’m willing to die on 👇:
The BEST thing you can do to grow and scale your business online is to learn how to write and do it as often as possible.
You don’t have to want to become a writer, but if you’re going to create the type of business that supports you without trading time for money, you need to create assets that work for you when you’re not working.
In other words, content, courses, ads, etc.
Even if you only want to produce audio or video content, you still need to know how to write compelling copy to attract the right people.
Off the top of my head, here is where good writing comes into play online:
Content (your website)EmailsSocial contentWebsite copySales page copyEmail sequencesCoursesPodcast posts (show notes)EngagementWorksheetsEbooksVideo headlines and descriptionsI’m sure I’m missing plenty on that list, but you cannot grow an online business without learning to write.
Period.
End of story.
And if you’re listening to this and feeling resistance (i.e., maybe you’re feeling a bit pissy?), then it’s time to do a little entrepreneurial adulting and get really honest with yourself.
How badly do you want this?
In other words, are you willing to do the work?
I’m not preaching hustle here; that’s not what I’m talking about.
I mean, are you willing to get comfortable with being uncomfortable?
I have yet to meet a single creator/entrepreneur who doesn’t experience fear.
It’s part of the journey.
I also haven’t met one who doesn’t have to write (even if you have a ghostwriter or your content is primarily audio and/or video, you still have to write headlines, captions, descriptions, etc.).
When I was getting started, I had plenty of fear but was so ignorant of the entire online marketing space that it was much easier to stay out
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