Brand Unmuted Podcast

We have a really special episode today - interview with Bethany Ryalls from South & Oak. Our conversation centers on the psychological barriers and common errors that impede successful hiring. Bethany speaks candidly about control, fear of imperfect outcomes, and the tendency to overcorrect by hovering. We discuss frequent mistakes: hiring out of desperation, delegating tasks but retaining all...

What if one of the best ways to grow your business had nothing to do with more ads, more content, or more hustle, and everything to do with an unlikely partner you haven't thought of yet? Today we're talking about indirect competition and why it might be the most underused growth strategy for creative entrepreneurs right now. Once you understand what it is, you're going to have a major aha moment,...

We’re getting personal today! As a brand new mom (and at the time of this recording, soon-to-be mom), Dianna is asking Joanna for her best advice on running a business while being a mom. We’re chatting about every season–from when they’re newborns to school-age, and how each new stage presents new challenges and opportunities for your business. If you're a business owner who is pregnant, thinking...

Most business owners don't reach out to a copywriter because they think they have a messaging problem. They come saying they're not getting enough inquiries, or the inquiries they are getting aren't the right fit, or they want to raise their prices and attract better clients. But believe it or not, underneath all of those problems is almost always a messaging issue. In this episode, we're getting...

We have a really special episode today–our very first guest interview!! Ashley Strong Smith is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, coach, writer, podcast host, ceremony-grade cacao facilitator, retreat host, and photographer who has spent years learning what it really means to slow down, honor the season you're in, and build a life that actually reflects your values. Her message couldn't feel more ti...

Everyone tells you to utilize email marketing. Grow your list, get more subscribers. But, how?? With an irresistible freebie, that's how! And as it turns out, freebies are one of the most underused strategies in small business marketing. In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how freebies can work for your business: what makes a good one, what formats to consider, how to come up with ideas,...

We've been threatening to do this episode for a while…and today is finally the day! We're taking a full break from business strategy to talk about something much more important: the Gilmore Girls. But because we can't fully turn off our entrepreneur brains, we are tying it back to business and chatting all about what Rory, Lorelai, and the rest of the Stars Hollow cast of characters have taught us...

We’re checking in with a short and sweet episode today to share about our decision to take a break for the summer. Joanna is traveling, Dianna’s having a baby, so we decided to take our own advice and prioritize rest for July and August! We’ll be back on September 8th with Season 2 . We’ve already been planning new episodes (some GOOD ones are coming), AND we’re sharing some exciting news today ab...

We have some big news AND it's our birthday, so we're doing something a little different today and doing a just-for-fun episode. First things first: Dianna has an announcement: baby boy is on the way, due at the end of August. We are so excited! And if that wasn't enough, we recently found out that our birthdays are only one day apart — Dianna's is June 28th and Joanna's is June 29th — and we had...

You get a walking pad! You get a happy light! You get a candle! Okay, we're not actually giving anything away. But we are sharing all of our favorite home office things – the items we can't run our businesses without – Oprah style. In this episode, we're each sharing our favorite home office items, from the practical to the nice-to-have. Everything mentioned is linked in the show notes so you don'...

The brands you can't stop thinking about aren't the ones with the best products. They're the ones that tell the best stories. In this episode, Dianna is in the hot seat, sharing everything she knows about brand storytelling and giving away five secrets behind what makes good copy actually work. If you've ever sat down to write your about page, your bio, or even just a social caption and completely...

Ever wondered what to have ready before hiring a copywriter? Or how to know when its time to hire a web designer instead of DIYing your website? In this episode, we’re doing something a little different–an ask-me-anything style FAQ episode where we’re answering real questions from past clients and discovery calls. We’re answering everything you’d ever want to know about working with a website desi...

What if burnout isn't just part of being an entrepreneur? What if it's actually a warning sign you're ignoring? Today we're talking about something a lot of entrepreneurs don't want to admit they're dealing with: burnout. What it actually looks like, how to recover from it, and how to build a business that doesn't keep running you into the ground. Burnout is your body's warning sign that it's time...

What if the thing standing between you and your next level isn't your strategy, your branding, or even your offer? What if it's the fact that you're still waiting for things to be perfect? In this episode, we're sharing our own struggles with perfectionism, why we think entrepreneurs chase perfection so much, what actually happens when you wait until something feels perfect, and how to push past p...

If you've ever thought that retainer work wouldn't fit your business model, or that it would complicate your workflow, this episode might change your mind. We're breaking down what retainer clients actually look like in real life, how we've each structured our retainer programs differently (as a designer and copywriter), and why adding retainers might be exactly what your business has been missing...

If you've heard of Showit’s DXP retreat and ever wondered what it’s all about, or if it's worth attending, this episode is for you. Joanna just got back from her fourth DXP retreat, and she's sharing everything: what the experience is really like, what happens during those four days at the ranch in Show Low, Arizona, what makes it different from other industry events, and why she keeps going back...

If you've ever sent off work to a client and immediately thought "they're probably going to hate it” (even though they never do!), this episode is for you. We're talking all about imposter syndrome: what it is, why it shows up at every stage of business (not just when you're starting out), and how to deal with it when those self-doubts creep in. In this episode, we're sharing our personal experien...

If you've ever wondered whether affiliate marketing is worth it, or if it's actually as passive as everyone claims, this episode is for you. We're breaking down everything you need to know about affiliate marketing: what it is, how it works, why companies create affiliate programs in the first place, and how to choose which products and services to promote. We're also sharing which affiliate progr...

When most people think about branding, they immediately think: logo, colors, fonts. But that's only scratching the surface. This is the first episode in our branding miniseries, and we're starting with the foundation: what branding actually is (and what it isn't). We're breaking down the difference between brand identity (the visual stuff) and brand messaging (how you communicate), why most people...

If you've ever felt like you're spending way too much time on repetitive tasks that don't directly generate revenue, then this episode is for you. We're talking all about automations and how they can save you hours every week in your business. From streamlining admin tasks to managing your client workflow, automations are one of the best investments you can make as a small business owner. In this...

If you've ever felt guilty for working late, missing a family event for a client deadline, or taking a mental health day when your to-do list is overflowing, then this episode is for you. We're tackling the work-life balance myth head-on. Spoiler alert: we don't think it's achievable. And we don't think that's a bad thing. In this episode, we're talking about where the concept of work-life balance...

Getting client testimonials seems like it should be simple, but it's actually something most business owners struggle with. Last week, we talked about the trust recession and how social proof is more important now than ever before. So this week, we're diving deep into everything you need to know about client testimonials: how to ask for them, what questions to ask to get compelling answers, when t...

Business feels different right now than it did even a year or two ago — and you're not imagining it. We're in what marketing experts are calling a "trust recession," and it's changing the way people buy online. Consumers are more skeptical, they're taking longer to make decisions, and they're looking for authenticity over perfectly polished content. In this episode, we're breaking down what the tr...

If you've been curious about switching your website over to Showit — or even if you've never heard of it before — this episode is for you. Showit is our favorite website builder, and today we're breaking down exactly why. From the creative freedom it offers to the incredible community behind it, there are so many reasons we love working with (and on) this platform. Whether you're a designer lookin...

If you've been in business for any amount of time, you've probably made at least one pivot — and if you haven't yet, you will. Pivoting in your career or business isn't a sign of failure. It's a normal, healthy part of growth. But there's often this underlying fear that comes with making a big change: What will people think? Am I giving up? Should I push through instead? In this episode, we're tal...