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25.01.2022 If you get out-communicated, over time you will lose. @garyvee So how do you avoid getting out-communicated? By sharing content that brings value and serves your audience: aka Content Marketing. Here’s 5 topics you could try covering over the next week or two to serve your audience well.... Lend your expertise. Host a Q&A session via an Instagram post, Stories, or IG live and offer to answer any questions at all that could help your audience. What is something people don’t know about what you have to offer? There’s always a part of what we do that’s hard to explain or we never give enough time to. Now’s your chance. What’s the most frequently asked question you receive about your product or service? Answer this in detail. What has been your most popular Instagram post to date? Reshare this image and tell more about the story behind it, why it resonated with people, are there other things similar to it that you can share? Who’s the face behind the business? Yes, that probably means YOU. Let people know more about the person whose business they’ll be supporting if they decide to work with you or buy from you. And don’t forget to STOP! (Check my last post if you’re wondering what I’m talking about!)

25.01.2022 What DON’T you show on social media? Have you ever thought about WHY? In the same way we add a filter to our images and stories on social media, we often also filter what we share. Sometimes that’s a good thing; for example you might decide to not share images of your children, or to refrain from expressing political views. Having solid brand guidelines to help you determine what to say on social is really important.... But how often do you hold off on posting because the content doesn’t feel perfect or polished enough? What if I told you much of what you hold off on posting is what people actually want to hear, see and read the MOST? Think about your favourite accounts. I bet you love them because of their HONESTY. I’m talking about things like: Being yourself; letting people know who you are, quirks and all. Let your client or customer in on whose dream they’re supporting by investing in you! Your process; what it really takes to deliver your service or product. (Remember: The easiest way to justify PRICE is through PROCESS.) Your failures; be human and share your fails and let it be a lesson to your followers, while also showing your resilience. Your team; no one expects you to do it alone! Celebrate the village it takes, whether that’s your employees, partner, child carers, mentors and so on. Life beyond the laptop; you no doubt spend hours at a computer screen, but you also have a circle of influence you engage with. Celebrate these people! It’s also a great marketing strategy! (If you want to understand your circle of influence, I’ve linked to a blog post in my bio.) My challenge to you: Next time you think about deleting a piece of content, ask yourself WHY? Are you deleting it because it doesn’t align with your brand values? Or are you deleting it because it’s not perfect enough?

25.01.2022 When I discuss with clients the need to share more in their marketing, I usually receive a lot of push back. But share what? I don’t want to overshare? If I share too much, no one will need to hire me. ... My market is saturated. I can’t risk sharing my big ideas. Here’s what I know to be true because of research, and because I’ve experienced it in my own business. The more I share with the intent to serve my audience, the more in demand my services become. Ideas are easy. It’s the implementation that’s hard. People can steal your ideas, but without your motivation, experience, know-how, reputation, brain and heartthey will never be able to do it like you would. The more I serve, the less I have to sell. So, what are you going to share today? Fun-Fact: One day I’ll get around to telling you the story from last year when I discovered an entrepreneur in Europe had stolen my entire website. They had copied my images, used my website text but subbed in their own name (even on the about page!), duplicated my services the LOT. But do you want to know what’s also true? They might have stolen my ideas, but they couldn’t pull off the implementation. Their website no longer exists. @kaoverii_silva

23.01.2022 "I just don't know if I can do that..." Have you caught yourself saying or thinking this before? You and me both. I was listening to @simplystaceymorgan during our weekly Guilt Be Gone Time Management training last night, and she shared a line her business coach always says to her: "You only need 20 seconds of bravery."... It got me thinking.... Let's list some of the "scary" things holding us back in our marketing efforts for our business: Putting our face into our Instagram Stories Being a guest on a podcast Going LIVE on Facebook or Instagram Hosting a webinar Creating and using video content Sending a message to someone we want to collaborate with Sharing something new or different Starting an email newsletter What else would you add to this list? The concept of only needing 20 seconds of bravery suddenly makes all of these fears feel doable! With 20 seconds of bravery you can hit record to start making a video, say "yes" to the podcast invitation, push "send" on the DM or email you've rewritten 10 times but never sent, go LIVE with your audience... you get the idea. Usually it's the "getting started" bit that's the hardest. But once we do that thing we're scared of, it suddenly loses its power over us. So my wish for you this week: Be Brave... just for 20 seconds. And if you need an accountability partner, let me know! I'll check in with you later in the week to see how you went! Thanks for the motivation @simplystaceymorgan. Graphic via Pinterest. Credit: @minna_so (I think I need to frame this!). Visual Description: This is a pink tile with red text that says Take the risk or lose the chance. #thestrategystudio #smallbusinessowner #ladystartup #dowhatyoulove #creativeentrepreneur #smallbusiness #marketingstrategy #smallbusinessmarketing

23.01.2022 Do yourself a favour and jump over and follow @simplystaceymorgan. Stace is a wildly successful (and award winning) business owner, host and producer of multiple podcasts, speaker, consultant, wife and Mum of 3. When it comes to time management and productivityI've never worked with anyone else like her. I learn something new every time we meet (and I'm meant to be the one helping her!).... Next month Stacey is launching a 4-week mini-course called "Guilt Be Gone: Work smarter + make time for the things that matter". It's an online course meeting as a small group via video call once a week. You'll learn how to: Regain control of your week. Remove the feelings of guilt, stress and chaos that are weighing on you. Create and action a weekly schedule that brings you joy. Productivity hacks for maximum efficiency in your days. I will be signing up! A dedicated hour each week for one month forcing me to spend quality time on a manageable schedule is EXACTLY what I need. I'll pop the link for more details in my profile in case you're interested. (You won't regret it!) Or feel free to send me a DM.

23.01.2022 Motherhood and entrepreneurship is a combination I never expected to experience. Having began my career as a journalist working for a large media company, I had a rather traditional view of what having a new bub would look like; namely 12 months maternity leave followed by the inevitable return to work / childcare juggle. In simple terms: work would happen from 8 to 6, and family life would happen around that. That’s what everyone did, right? My reality for the birth of b...oth of my children couldn’t have looked more different to this! (I set an out-of-office on my email for 8 weeks , topped up the coffee machine and hoped for the best! Ha! Just kidding kind of. ). But in all seriousness, I had never imagined motherhood and entrepreneurship as it wasn’t something I’d seen modeled by women around me. I viewed entrepreneurship as meaning no paid leave for time with my kids, no guaranteed income, no boundaries between work and home, no defined path for career progression. That all changed when I entered the creative industry in Vancouver 8 years ago. I was suddenly surrounded by incredible women (@celsiafloral, @spreadloveevents, @ifimade to name just a few) forging their own paths and writing their own rules as mothers and business owners. They showed me entrepreneurship could mean I determined my own work hours, leave and time with my children, I was in control of my income, I could set my own boundaries between work and home, and I was in control of excelling (or pumping the brakes) on my career at any rate I choose. As I approach the 4-week mark with Baby Jacob, I’m undoubtedly still in the fog, fuelled by cuddles and caffeine, but I’m feeling endlessly grateful to be experiencing the motherhood and entrepreneurship combo for a second time. It might not be forever (I’m a huge believer that life has seasons) and it’s certainly not for everyone, but for me right nowentrepreneurship has meant a freedom and sense of control I never knew was possible. [continued in comments...]

21.01.2022 Are you an audio book kind of person... or do you prefer the tactile experience of turning the pages? When it comes to business titles, I'm a "real" book person through and through. I like to dog ear pages to come back to, scribble notes all over the place and highlight phrases I want to remember (and share with you!). If you're interested in business and marketing book recommendations (and anything I’ve recently loved), I share my favourite reads each month in my email newsl...etter. If you're not on the list, send me a DM and I can add you so you don't miss my September round up. Tell me... what are you currently reading? And are you an audio or "real" book person?

16.01.2022 Hi there! I'm Tahnée, founder of The Strategy Studio. (My name's pronounced like Renee, but with a T.) My passion is helping small business owners communicate their value through effective marketing so they can connect with their ideal clients and run enjoyable, profitable businesses. But it took me quite a few years, and a HUGE career change to find my way here, and sheesh am I glad I did!... If you're somewhere in the midst of a career change, working on a side hustle, contemplating pursuing a big idea you've had in the back of your mind for ages.. and second-guessing yourself at every turn. I SEE YOU. Over the past 15 years of my career I've held numerous job titles including journalist editor florist planner/stylist creative director social media + marketing manger content strategist online course producer. Could I make sense of this career progression on a CV? Probably not. But every one of these roles (that have surprisingly all been connected in some way!) have contributed to my diverse skillset which is my greatest asset as a business and marketing strategist. Don't let anyone else's expectations or opinions discourage you from pursuing something that sets your heart on fire and makes you feel alive. Be smart, be strategic, and seek out the guidance and advice you require along the way. Being an entrepreneur is not easy... I won't sugar coat it. But it's brought me more fulfillment than I knew possible. I've created the business I need to lead the lifestyle I desire for myself and my family. I wish for the same for you. Keep going! It's worth it, and you CAN do it.

14.01.2022 Did you know 85 per cent of buyers use referrals and recommendations as a method of locating service providers? Hearing this stat it can be tempting to take a passive approach in businessthat is relying on others, such as former clients, to continue doing the "referring" for you. But what if you could play an ACTIVE role in improving your chances of receiving inquiries via referrals? It all comes down to networking, or what I like to call "your circle of influence".... In my second podcast episode with @ifimade out today Emily and I talk all about effective forms of networking that won't cause us introverts to curl up in a ball and hide under a table! Even if the word "networking" makes you cringe, I promise the 5 strategies I share in this episode will leave you pleasantly surprised... and hopefully optimistic about your chances of success!

11.01.2022 In my August email newsletter I listed 4 moments I really didn't want to forget in the midst of what was a total whirlwind of a month. (August feel bonkers to anyone else?!) . Top of the list of moments to remember was this smile; making all the sleepless nights worthwhile. It was while writing the newsletter I found myself reflecting on a blog post I wrote back in April 2019. It was titled "I don't work in the 'ideal world' and here's why".... It went a little like this: "If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious that you’re not growing your business or launching your next big idea in the way you think you should, I want you to consider this: You became an entrepreneur to pursue a passion and design a lifestyle that works for YOU. No one else. What do you need from your business? What does success look like you for? Chances are it’s different for all of us, and I’d also take a guess that it’s considerably different to the influencers / millionaires / corporate business coaches selling you their fool-proof methods for growing a 7-figure empire. If the 7-figure empire is your dream go for it! But if it’s not, that’s okay! It’s more than okayit’s perfect. Because it’s personal to you. So, let’s all stop losing sleep over what we think we should do, and instead ask ourselves What is the next best step forward for ME?. There’s more than one way to do business. After all, that’s why we decided to run our own. Rather than being overwhelmed by what we can’t do, let’s feel empowered to do everything we can." This was exactly what I needed to read as I attempted to type out a newsletter while bouncing a fussy bub, and plan my return to work over the coming month. Perhaps it was what you needed to read today, too.

10.01.2022 I wanted to share a quick story with you about making things happen... Meet @emilyjanephotography.ca. I first connected with Emily in November last year when we did a Strategy Session together. At the time, Emily was already a successful entrepreneur owning her own photography studio, bridal boutique @whitewillowboutique.ca and simultaneously running a mentorship program for fellow female business owners which had successfully grown through word of mouth alone! She told me sh...e felt she’d reached a point where she needed to separate her mentorship business into its own platform. When I asked Emily to describe this mentorship platform in an ideal scenario she said she wanted a blog that felt like a place where women could come to be inspired and ultimately find the support they were looking for to achieve their dreams. And you know what? There’s nothing ideal world about this idea. Today it is 100% REAL world. Today Emily (who is also pregnant with her first bub!) launched her latest venture @shebyemilyjane.ca, a business, lifestyle and mentorship platform connecting ambitious women to a life well lived. Congratulations Emily! Working with you on the development of the SHE brand alongside Julia of @luminouslines has been such a joy. I’m excited for the value you’re going to bring to female entrepreneurs everywhere. Women will feel nothing but supported and empowered in your presence.

08.01.2022 I know some people find it cheesy, but I'm a fan of the "5 Random Facts About Me" introductions people do on social media! I love that I know @luminouslines once fell down an entire escalator and now avoids them at all costs. I think of her every time I step on to one and it makes me laugh! Thanks for the giggle Julia! So, here's 5 random facts about me.... I don't have a middle name. My parents decided Tahnée, pronounced like Renee but with a T, was going to give me enough challenges in life without adding a middle name, so they didn't! When I was 26 years old, I was the youngest editor of a daily newspaper in Australia. That same year, 2010, the local member of parliament, the state Premier, Prime Minister, AND Governor General of Australia were ALL women. #girlpower. I grew up a student of the arts. If I wasn't at school, music lessons, drama or public speaking (#nerdalert), I was at the ballet studio. As a result, I didn't play a lot of team sports... and I am terrible at catching! I won my first team sports trophy when I was 24 and was so excited I rang my best friend to tell her. The trophy is still at my parent's house! I love fishing, including deep sea. It's a running joke I can somehow always out-fish my husband. It drives him insane. On one fishing trip he was hooked on to something BIG and I yelled "Don't lose this one!" and 2 seconds later his line snapped. It was a very silent boat ride home that day! I don't like sweet things for breakfast. For breakfast in bed I request my regular 6 Weetbix. (Yes, 6, but only 2 in the bowl at a time... otherwise they'll go soggy which is a big #nodeal for me!) Tell me a random fact about yourself! Anyone else scared of escalators? Anybody not a fan of sweet things for breakfast... surely I'm not alone here!

06.01.2022 Ok friends... you know I talk a lot about the REAL world and the IDEAL world. I thought I should share a legit real-world experience from today that I was tempted to pretend didn’t happen... but heywhere’s the fun in that! So here’s what went down. I accidentally double booked Jono and I on work calls at 7am so I had to hold a very awake and very busy Jacob while I chatted with @ifimade and @studiomondine. (Not ideal, but manageable. He was happy.) But THEN... he somehow did... a wee on me and projectile vomited 3 times! It was like a strip tease! (Jacobnot me!) First I took off his sleep sack, then his pjs, and then his singlet until he was just a half naked butter ball bouncing on my lap. The room was a war zone by the end with vomit, spew cloths and dirty clothes everywhere! Did I mention it was a VIDEO call. . I tried to keep a calm face but who knows what it looked like from the other end! But hey, I had brushed my hair and washed my face in time for a 7am work call so.... WIN! Thanks for keeping us on task through my chaos @ifimade @marymcleod and @studiomondine. Note to self: don’t double book with the husband! #mumfail #thathappened #funnynotfunny #workfromhomelife #mumpreneurlife

05.01.2022 Check out the new blog post via the link in my profile. How many times have you written a caption that sounds a little like that? Well here’s an unfortunate fact: No one is leaving Instagram to read a blog and if they *do* you better give them a good reason to.... Your goal should always be to meet people where they are. If they’re on Instagram, that means bringing them value and engaging with them HERE. Don’t make them go somewhere else to get the good stuff. Your blog is to provide value and show currency to people who choose to hop over to your website (which probably means they’re interested in you). So here's what you can do: Pin all of your blogs to Pinterest to drive traffic to your website. Link to your new blog posts in your email newsletter. And by all means let people know via Instagram that you have a new post up on your website. BUT make sure you’ve given them enough value in your Instagram post alone. Don’t TEASE them, or they probably won’t come back.

05.01.2022 It feels so hard to explain why I’m worth my service fee when people are just looking at my pricing on a piece of paper. They won’t truly understand everything I do for them until AFTER they’ve experienced my service. This is among the most common pain points I hear during Strategy Sessions with clients. Whether you’re a wedding planner, a designer, a stylist, or a coach; the reward for a client often comes at the end of your service when they experience the wedding/rece...ive your design/see the results, and so on. And you’re righthaving nothing tangible to show on the front end is a challenge. But you can begin to solve it by sharing your process. Because the easiest way to justify PRICE is through PROCESS. The only way for someone to know what it is you REALLY do for them, is to show them! Thanks to social media that’s never been easier. Document the process of a design coming together over many months and let this project be its own highlight or have its own hashtag so followers can track it (and become invested in it!). Share before and after photos and videos to show the difference your expertise contributed to a situation or a person. Explain your expertise by sharing WHAT you do, and more importantly HOW. For example, I share as many business and marketing tips as I can to give you an insight into the types of areas I know I can bring value. Share testimonials from clients talking about their experience of working with you. Pull back the curtain and show the behind the scenes of your business. Firstly, people love it, but secondly, it truly is an opportunity to invite people into your world and show what it actually takes to pull off what you do. Don’t be afraid to let people in. Build trust in the online world and watch your business grow from strength to strength in the real world.

04.01.2022 If you haven't already, do yourself a favour and read this excellent book by @glennondoyle. If you’ve ever experienced mum guilt or felt burdened by expectations, this book will help you understand why and FIX it. Here's one of my favourite excerpts:... "If we keep passing down the legacy of martyrdom to our daughters, with whom does it end? Which woman ever gets to live? And when does the death sentence begin? At the wedding altar? In the delivery room? Whose delivery roomour children's or our own? When we call martyrdom love we teach our children that when love begins, life ends. This is why Jung suggested: There is no greater burden on a child than the unlived life of a parent. "What if love is not the process of disappearing for the beloved but of emerging for the beloved? ... What if the call of motherhood is not to be a martyr but to be a model?" Have you read Untamed? Did it resonate with you? What was your favourite part? #untamed #getuntamed

03.01.2022 When you sit down to consider increasing your pricing, do you find yourself asking What’s the most I think people would pay for this? If you do, that’s VERY normal, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right way. Instead of considering what most people would pay for your service, what if you reframed that thinking. What most people would pay is of little value to your business. The only people that matter are those that highly VALUE, NEED and WANT what you have to offer. Pr...ice yourself for your tiny corner of the marketnot for the masses. Your pricing should be based on your EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE and the QUALITY of your product or service; not someone else’s perception of your value. To your ideal client, your value is considerably higher than you’re allowing yourself to believe. When you price based on the value you can bringand you do an excellent job of COMMUNICATING that value by serving your audienceyou won’t be left at the whims of industry trends. In short, don’t let your local market dictate your price. Build and invest in growing your own market of potential clients who can’t wait to work with youthe ones who highly value, need and want what you have to offerand set your price for them. They know what you are worth. You just need to believe it. Visual description: This is a peach-coloured tile with text that says To your ideal client, your value is considerably higher than you’re allowing yourself to believe.

02.01.2022 Spending hours preparing content for social media yet finding your engagement is ? Maybe it’s time to STOP . And I don’t mean stop posting! STOP is a handy little acronym I use to test whether my content is ticking the boxes necessary to engage my audience. We can’t control the algorithms, but we can control the value of what we’re sharing... which ultimately is what the algorithms are looking at, anyway: How much do people want / need / enjoy our content?... Here’s my (S)TOP tips to remember: Serve. Your willingness to share valuable information will be noticed by your audience. Tell a story. Stories stick with us, and we then tell them to other people too. Open up. Be transparent and honest, always. Fake will fail in the long run. Personalise. Put a face (or human element) to your content that people can relate to. Maybe you can’t tick every box with every post, and that’s okay. But the more you can STOP the more your content will POP ! (Sorry...I’ll stop now )