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Storytelling: Kick Ass and Don’t Worry About It

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I’ve decided virtual conferences are THE BEST! Reduced costs. No travel expenses. Attend while working from home. 

In the last six weeks, I’ve attended or presented at four conferences. Interestingly, the topic covered most was the power of storytelling—as in building a stronger brand by telling your own story. For example, in the workshop I presented, a woman asked how to establish her business presence when she is new to the community? I suggested she make that part of her story. You know, like The New Girl in Town.

So what is your story? We all have one and people want to hear it. 

As humans, we crave relationships. Sharing who you are and what you do is a great way for people to relate to your business. While I won’t get into the mechanics of good storytelling (here’s a plethora of information), I will say this—You are a special person. You are unique. Be yourself and celebrate your own story. 

And, as one knowledgeable presenter said…

LET’s WORK TOGETHER

What I’m Working On This Month

We’re almost ready for take-off. Tammy, of Tietz Family Farms, and I have been working hard to finish her site by the end of the month. Be sure to check it out! 

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  1. The Tug: Finding Purpose and Joy Through Entrepreneurship, by Barbara Zabawa, for those feeling the entrepreneurial tug but have yet to pull the trigger. Coming out March 31. Looks good, especially since we’re in a surge of pandemic start-ups.
     
  2. Where to Find the Best Wisconsin Cheese Curds. The Cabin podcast covers an iconic Wisconsin cuisine. Talk about a tasty trail—time for a road trip?!
     
  3. Instagram has new features, making it even better for business marketing. Here’s a long article that covers everything. 
     
  4. More cheese: TikTok’s Baked Feta Pasta. I’m not a TikToker but found this viral sensation on The Washington Post. Baked with Landmark Creamery’s  Sheep Milk Feta—my heart swoons!

The Sweet Freedom of Your Own Business

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There’s so much to love about winter—glistening beauty, outdoor adventures, indoor coziness. But if there’s one thing we all really love, it’s the END of winter.

a.k.a. Maple Syrup Season

Since I’m relatively new to syruping, I appreciate learning from social media groups. There you’ll find tappers of every kind, from a single tree in their urban backyard to thousands in rural forests. You’ve got your traditionalists hanging buckets and your enterprisers stringing tubal lines. You’ve got your watchkeepers over heat-induced evaporators and your innovators pushing the process with reverse osmosis.

Me? I’m thrilled with my six taps drip, drip, dripping into old-fashioned buckets and I happily stoke wood into our even-more-old-fashioned, not-at-all-efficient, outdoor fireplace. Yet, I’m hinting to my engineering peeps that a home-fabricated RO system sure would be interesting.

When it comes to maple syruping, I’m definitely my own girl. 

Speaking of Sweetness

In a recent workshop, I showcased Hilary Kearny, of Girl Next Door Honey. She’s a savvy business woman and is brilliant in branding herself to her profitable customers. 

When I asked Hilary about her tactics, she admitted: “If I’m totally honest, I was mostly just celebrating my own freedom to make my business and branding whatever I wanted.”

Celebrating your own freedom. Isn’t that simply the best?

Running a business is like tapping for syrup: there are many ways to do it. But in the end, your business is YOUR business. Celebrate the freedom to make it whatever you want it to be!

LET’s WORK TOGETHER

What I’m Working On This Month

As mentioned above, I recently presented a marketing workshop for the Women Food & Ag Network (WFAN) for its “Stories that Sell: A Robust Communications Toolkit for Sustainable Ag Farmers and Ranchers.”

Be sure to follow WFAN for upcoming podcasts, videos, webinars and handouts. 

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  1. Family Recipe: A poetic video of family, ingredients, and blending together.
  2. No Ordinary Woman, by Janice Sanford Beck. Outdoor adventures—my own and other’s— have saved me from winter/pandemic blahs. Looking forward to reading this for my book club.
  3. Emily Ford—another amazing woman—has been hiking Wisconsin’s 1200-mile Ice Age Trail through since December 28.
  4. 13 Ways to Launch a Food Business of Your Dreams: by Bon Appétit. 

Seasons Greetings from Adunate!

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From our home to yours, may your celebrations be blessed!

So, yes, this is my home office, where for the past 15 years Adunate has worked its magic. This year my work space has been both a refuge and, well, an isolation (I’m guessing you can relate). But, hey, no complaints here. As we wrap up 2020, I’m thankful for so many blessings: faith, family, friends and good health. 

Keep On Keeping On

I’m also thankful for another year working with inspiring clients. It’s an understatement to say it was one of complexities and contrasts, thanks to the coronavirus. I watched some clients struggle to keep their doors open. Yet another client started a new business—check out Hymns In My Heart, a specialty card shop.

One of my clients had to cancel its annual conference part way through our project, yet I was privileged to present marketing workshops at two others. The world stopped meeting in person and overnight we mastered all manner of videoconferencing technology. Amazing, isn’t it?

Many of my clients have changed the way they deliver their products. Curbside pickup and online shopping carts are now the norm, which in turn changes the work I do for them. This year, web design kept me much busier than print design. 

Through it all, I cherish our meaningful friendships. I truly work with the best clients! As Curtis Mayfield used to sing, “And there’s still a lot of faith and warmth and trust, when we keep on keeping on.”

And that’s just what we’re doing—keeping on.

LET’s WORK TOGETHER

What I’m Working On This Month: Vacation!

Every holiday season my husband and I take time off between Christmas and New Year. This year we’re adding a couple days on either side to make it a full two weeks, said with a big cheer! We’re planning a few day trips, hiking (hopefully snowshoeing) and plain ol’ hanging out at home. Glorious!

These off-days are also the time I clean my office and start planning the new year. Stashing the old calendars and putting out the new is always rejuvenating. I think we’re all ready for that, right?

Good riddance, 2020!

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  1. Christmas in Lake Country: meaningful for the whole family, either in Facebook or YouTube
  2. Ever want to align your planting with the seasons? Me too. I bought this Gardening By The Moon Calendar for 2021.
  3. WFH is a hot topic. I love perusing home offices and creative spaces.
  4. Art Story: The Ecology of Expression and Perspective, celebrate Winter Solstice with the Women, Food & Ag Network.

Wrapping Up 2020

However you celebrate the holidays, my prayer is that God is with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My Marketing Predictions for 2021

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Who’s ready to leave 2020 behind? I hear ya. Even as I finalize my Thanksgiving menu, I’m looking to 2021 and predictions for the upcoming marketing trends.

Interestingly, they all point in one direction—Human Connection.

I’m no trend forecaster, but based on society’s response to 2020, I have a few inklings of my own. People are tired of anger. We’ve had enough division. We realize in order to overcome 2020, we need to think in terms of community rather than self.

People need kindness, values, and coming together.

Marketing With Human Connection

  • Do small things, nicely done 
    Small rudders guide great ships. Little hinges swing big doors. And small businesses make a big difference. Think grassroots care for your customers and community.
  • Show concern
    Whether it’s the words you use in online communications or face-to-face interactions with customers, show them you care for their well-being. Take time to listen.
  • Help your customers be your customers
    What can you do to make it easier (and safer) for people to buy from you? Zoom meetings? Online store? Ordering service? Delivery to their door?
LET’s WORK TOGETHER

What I’m Working On This Month

Brainstorming is always the first step. I’ve got a couple branding projects in the works, both for myself and others. 

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

What I Wish For You

God’s blessings on your Thanksgiving. May your day be meaningful, however you celebrate!

October Celebrates Women-Owned Small Businesses

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Earlier this year I became certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Given the micro-scope of my business, one might question the economic value this certification brings. I don’t really care. I want to boldly proclaim I’m a woman-owned business!

Certified or not, if you’re a woman-owned business, you too should be proud. Whether you’re a fully staffed enterprise or a side-hustle solopreneur, you deserve a shout-out. Your business contributes in ways you can’t imagine. It’s important!

Becky Foster Art

I recently revisited marketing guru Ilise Benun on YouTube. While her topic is on negotiating prices, she takes it from the direction of respecting ourselves as business women. Here’s what she encourages us to repeat out loud.

  • I can become a savvy business woman.
  • I can ask for and get paid what I need.
  • My work has value and I will be compensated accordingly.
  • I am generous with myself and take the time I need (this relates to what, when, how I deliver a product).
  • I know when to walk away.
LET’s WORK TOGETHER

October Means Vacation!

In Minnesota’s northwoods we discovered World’s Best Donuts, with lines of people around the block every morning. Yes, their donuts are, oh, so good. But also, their marketing tactics are definitely out-of-the-hole (get it? donut? so puny:-). I’m going to give them a study.

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  • Humility has power; the power to heal, the power to help. A meaningful article by Maria Shriver.
  • Huntington Loan Program and Grants for Women: Where women business owners can turn for financial help.
  • Safe from the Sea, by Peter Geye. Vacationing in Minnesota and the upcoming 45th anniversary of S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sinking on Lake Superior has me revisiting this favorite author’s first novel. And then his second, third and fourth novels!
  • Learning Whova to go with Zoom for my workshop presentation for WFAN’s Annual Conference. Want to attract media attention? Sign up for my workshop. No, you don’t have to be a farmer!
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