More than a Few Words

If you are like most business owners, right now you are stressing about something. You are probably thinking if you could only get rid of that stress everything would be better.

But Allison Graham, suggests some of that stress is actually helpful. She discusses three categories of stress: empowering stress, destructive stress, and survival stress. Empowering stress is characterized by feeling energized, in a state of flow, and capable of tackling challenging tasks. It's the positive stress that drives productivity and achievement. Destructive stress, on the other hand, leads to overwhelm, resentment, and negative impacts on both work and personal life. Survival stress is a natural response that alerts us to danger and sharpens our focus, but it can become counterproductive if not managed properly.

The conversation delves into the nuances of recognizing empowering stress versus destructive stress. The key lies in understanding oneself, acknowledging individual patterns, and finding the optimal balance between time constraints and deadlines. Allison emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and strategic problem-solving to develop effective stress management techniques tailored to each person's unique needs.

I had so much fun chatting with Amy Singleton, about building authority with authentic content. Amy is the CEO and owner of Hite Digital Norman, an Inc. 5000 digital and branding agency.

Amy's mission is to empower individuals to reconcile their personal and professional aspirations without compromise, and today, we're tapping into her expertise to explore how businesses can authentically engage with Google's algorithms to stand out in a world inundated with AI-generated content.

Understanding Google's Desires

As we kick off our conversation, Amy emphasizes the importance of understanding what Google truly wants. "Google wants things that are fast, relevant, and profitable," she explains. The search engine giant aims to provide users with quick, accurate answers to their queries, fostering repeat engagement and loyalty.

Crafting Relevant Content

So, how can businesses ensure their content resonates with Google's algorithms? Amy suggests several strategies, starting with optimizing Google business profiles and local listings. Consistency across these platforms builds credibility and trust, key factors in Google's ranking system.

Additionally, Amy highlights the significance of backend structures, such as schema markup and metadata, in enhancing a website's visibility. By providing clear signals about the content's relevance, businesses can improve their chances of appearing in relevant search results.

Answering the Right Questions

Understanding user intent is crucial in crafting effective content. Amy illustrates this point with an anecdote about a successful blog post on her previous company's website. Despite its seemingly mundane topic—how much painters make per hour—the article addressed a common query among homeowners, driving significant traffic to the site.

Embracing Authenticity

In a landscape saturated with AI-generated content, authenticity emerges as a competitive advantage. While AI can offer valuable insights and inspiration, Amy emphasizes the importance of infusing content with a human touch. Whether through storytelling or personalization, businesses can create a unique connection with their audience.

Building Authority

To further assert relevance and authority, Amy recommends leveraging press releases and securing backlinks from reputable sources. These tactics not only enhance a website's credibility but also demonstrate its expertise within its niche.

A Call to Action

As our conversation draws to a close, Amy extends a generous offer to our audience: a complimentary website audit to identify areas of opportunity and improvement. This gesture exemplifies her commitment to supporting businesses on their digital journey.

Conclusion

These days, it is all about authenticity and relevance. When you understand Google's preferences and create content to match their strategy you can navigate the complexities of organic marketing with confidence. As Amy Singleton reminds us, success lies not in mimicking AI-generated content but in harnessing the power of human connection to engage and inspire.

These days, it seems like everybody's talking about robots. It's easy to get swept up by trends like Google algorithm changes and AI generated content. But, guest Rai Hyde Cornell says those things are secondary to the most important factor in your marketing - the human beings

Too often, we think about the system or platform first. We wonder if we should jump into Threads or buy Google ads, but those decisions come after you decide who you are talking to.

About Rai

Rai Hyde Cornell has been freelancing for more than 16 years as a copywriter turned agency owner. Now, she's sharing all of her most powerful business AND manifestation hacks with other freelancers. As a business mentor at Chiron Consulting, Rai hosts barrier-shattering workshops on pricing, client acquisition, and mindset and works one-on-one with private clients to help them triple their incomes within one year. As an agency owner at Cornell Content Marketing, Rai builds and executes psychology-informed content strategies for her clients while training her team in efficient writing methods and the psychology of copywriting.

From our archive - Originally broadcast on 2/14/2020 enjoy this encore conversation with Matt Nettleton.

Sometimes, as a sales person heads out to make cold calls, it feels like they are trying to storm a castle. They prepare to battle their way in the door. My coach, sales professional Matt Nettleton says it doesn't have to be that way.

Armed with a series of strategic questions, and a willingness to really listen to the answers, a sales person can actually encourage prospects to lower their defenses and actually invite the sales person in.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Always go into a sales conversation with a list of prepared questions to uncover what a prospect really needs and guide the conversation.

I love a good networking event. but I know not everybody loves that process. They're often confused and frustrated with how to start the conversation and where to go after they've opened it. Laura Templeton suggests you start by ditching the pitch mentality.

Start by crafting a short "I help" statement. So when someone asks what you do, you an say I help . . . That makes the conversation about your customers not you. The next trick is to have a great set of questions you can use to get the other person talking.