Explore every episode of the podcast Marketing with Purpose

Quick question: If someone landed on your home page right now, would they know what you do in nano seconds? Or would they have to scroll, squint, and guess?

Most home pages fall into one of two traps: they're either cluttered and confusing, or they're an image desert with no actual words explaining what you do. Either way, visitors can't figure out what you offer—so they just leave.

Your home page isn't a novel. And it's not a photo gallery. It's a receptionist. It should greet people, tell them what you do, and point them where they need to go. That's it.

In this episode, we break down exactly what your home page needs to do (and what it definitely doesn't need to do):

• The billboard test—can someone understand what you do at 70mph?
• Why your header area matters more than you think
• How to prove you're awesome without just saying "we're awesome" over and over
• Plus, using AI as a tool (not a crutch) to evaluate and improve your page

If your home page hasn't been updated in a while—or you're not totally sure it's doing its job—this one's for you.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/home-page-design-tips/

Your year-end campaign emails are probably amazing. Your social posts? On point. Your stories? Compelling.

But if your website doesn’t back it up during December, none of that matters.

We've seen it happen too many times. Nonprofits pour everything into their year-end campaigns only to have the donation process fall apart at the very last step.

So Stacy and Monica made you a checklist.✨

This podcast/blog post combo has 15 tasks organized into three categories:

• 5 critical must-dos (your donation form HAS to work)
• 4 quick fact-checks (trust-builders that take minutes)
• 6 conversion boosters (tackle now or add to next year's list)

Don’t let 15 tasks scare you off, it’s okay if you can’t do everything on this list before your campaign kicks off. Start with the critical stuff (testing that donation form), then tackle what you can.

A working donation form on a slightly outdated site always beats a broken form on a beautiful one every single time.

Your donors are ready to give. Make sure your site is ready to receive. 

And even if you don’t look at the blog or listen to the podcast - GO TEST YOUR DONATION FORM ON A PHONE.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/nonprofit-year-end-giving-website-checklist/

Since the DOJ rolled out new ADA website compliance rules in March of last year, we’re busy updating sites—and answering a lot of questions about what it all means.

The one big sticking point in client conversations is linked documents.

PDFs, Word files, slide decks—anything you link to is now considered part of your website. That means those documents must meet ADA accessibility standards too.

Everyone’s asking the same thing: “How do we make those files compliant?”
So the Account Service staff tasked Monica with putting together an overview podcast + written instructions + step-by-step video tutorials. (They’re nothing if not thorough!!)

These resources, starting with this overview podcast episode explain how to:

1. Create your documents with accessibility in mind. 
2. Export them as PDFs so they stay accessible.
3. Check documents to be sure they’re good to go.

The two additional tutorials walk you through the two most common setups—step by step, button by button:

• Microsoft Word users: Complete guide →
  
  
• Google Docs users: Google Docs + Grackle workflow →
  
  

Our best advice: start with your next PDF, not your entire library.
Future you will thank present you. ❤️

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-to-make-an-ada-complaint-pdf-and-why/

If your website is turtling - and not in the good ninja turtle way, but in the slow-crossing-the-highway way - everyone's noticing and cringing.

Here's the deal: while you're sitting there wondering why your site is loading at turtle speed, your competitors' sites are loading in milliseconds and stealing your sales. That sucks.

But figuring out what’s wrong can feel like rocket science.

Tyler, Rebecca and Monica just did a deep dive into the 8 most common things that slow down WordPress sites - plus how we fix them. 

As you’d expect, we did get a little nerdy, but we translate the tech speak and label everything by skill level - Beginner, Intermediate, or 'Call a Professional’…and we color-coded everything in the blog post, so you're gonna be fine!

What we cover:

• Why Monica’s week-long optimization marathon failed (spoiler: it wasn't the website)
• How too many plugins are secretly slowing your site down
• Why your cheap hosting might be the real culprit
• How CloudFlare uses lava lamps for security (yes, really)
• Identifying the "digital freeloaders" slowing down your site
• Tyler's love/hate relationship with caching (it's complicated)

And friend, if you hit the halfway point and realize you'd rather be doing literally anything else with your time - even helping actual three-legged turtles cross actual highways - that's what we're here for.

Read the fully formatted (and color coded) blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/why-is-my-wordpress-site-so-slow-and-tricks-to-fix-it

We're celebrating MayeCreate’s 20th birthday with something special - the whole team sharing their biggest lessons learned along the way. From "don't polish a turd" to "imposter syndrome is loud, but good design is louder," these hard-won insights aren't just about building websites - they're about building a life and career you actually love.

Hear why getting uncomfortable is your secret weapon, how trusting your team changes everything, and why Monica had to write "I trust my team" 10 times before every management class (spoiler: she was a control freak). Plus stories about nose rings at interviews, Halloween costume cold calls, and why Tyler doesn't use a mouse.

These aren't your typical business lessons - they're real talk from people who've been figuring it out together for two decades.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/lessons-learned-from-20-years-in-business/

Businesses everywhere are slapping whatever ChatGPT spits out onto their website. And then they wonder why it sounds like every other company out there - or worse, like it was written by a very polite robot.

With human website traffic tapering and bot traffic on the rise, every single human visitor is precious. You can't afford to lose them to generic, robotic content that doesn't connect.

Here's the thing though - AI can actually help you write amazing website copy that sounds like YOU. But (and this is a big but) you've got to treat it like you would any other employee. You can't just give it vague instructions and expect magic.

In this workshop-style podcast episode and accompanying blog post, Monica walks through her entire process - the same one she uses with clients. You'll learn:

• What AI needs to write copy that sounds like you (not a chatbot)
• Monica's go-to method to save time and maintain authenticity in your content
• How to create page templates that save you time and create consistency
• Her editing and refinement process for AI-generated copy
• AI mistakes she sees on repeat - what to look for and how to fix 'em

But honestly, the biggest takeaway is this: if you're not combining real intelligence with AI, everything you make is going to suck. (One of Monica's clients said that in a meeting recently and it's so true.)

So back up your AI with some Monica fueled RI and rock out website copy that connects!

Read the fully formatted blog post with AI prompts and outlines to accompany this episode at: MayeCreate.com

So... have you heard about these new ADA web accessibility rules yet? If your first reaction was "Oh great, another thing I need to worry about," we totally get it. But honestly? This stuff isn't as scary as it sounds, and in the end it's actually going to make your website better for everyone.

Here's the deal, the Department of Justice finally gave us actual deadlines (April 2026 and 2027, depending on the number of people you serve), and a lot of government entities and nonprofits are scrambling to figure out what this means for them.

But before you schedule a task to “Panic About Google ADA
Compliance” at 2 AM, hit pause. Monica geeked out reading through all the official ADA documents (yes, she’s that person), and you know what? They actually make sense! The government followed their own accessibility rules when writing these guidelines. Who knew?

She broke down everything you need to know to get started:

• Who actually needs to comply (spoiler: it's way more than just city websites!)
• Those blessed exceptions that mean you don't have to fix EVERYTHING from the past 20 years
• Real deadlines so you know if you're in the 2026 or 2027 group
• What happens if you ignore this (hint: it involves dollar signs with lots of zeros)
• The actual standards explained without all the government-speak
• How to get started without losing your mind or your budget

The best part? These rules aren't about making your life harder—they're about making sure everyone in your community can actually use your website. And trust us, when you follow these guidelines, your site becomes easier for EVERYONE to navigate.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/ada-title-ii-website-accessibility-rules-exceptions/

And hey, if you listen to this and still have questions, feel free to send Monica an email to monica@mayecreate.com. She loves talking about this stuff (maybe a little too much, according to her family ).

Breaking News: Humans are now the minority on the internet. 

And no, this isn’t just tech drama.

That's right. According to the 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report, automated, aka bot, traffic has overtaken human activity for the first time in ten years, making up more than half—51%—of all internet traffic last year. 

But don't worry, this isn't a Terminator-style apocalypse (yet). In this latest episode of Marketing with Purpose, Monica is joined by MayeCreate's Chief Website Security Officer and digital guardian angel, Rebecca Thomas.

Rebecca is MayeCreate’s frontline defender who keeps over 300 websites safe through our Safe Site program. When she isn't fighting off Russian spam bots or thwarting login attacks, she's developing systems to keep client websites running smoothly.

• Why your website analytics might be lying to you (hint: those aren't all real visitors!)
• The hilarious (and sometimes terrifying) things bots are trying to do on your website
• How to tell if you're being targeted by the bad bots
• 9 simple security steps that'll make hackers move on to easier targets
• Why two-factor authentication is Rebecca's security BFF (and should be yours too)

This isn't just tech talk for the IT crowd. If you own a website (or are responsible for one), this episode breaks down complex security concepts into normal language and straightforward advice that keeps the human advantage in the bot-versus-human battle.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/website-security-essentials-for-2025/

Well, we're almost 2 years into our 4-day experiment now. Which probably makes it more of a permanent fixture than an experiment. There's not really a manual though, so...things ebb and flow and we're navigating the bumps as they come.

When we started sharing about our four-day work week adventure, we quickly realized not everyone wanted a four-day week. Some people were downright opposed - one even asked us if we were trying to retire!

But EVERYONE wants to figure out how to get more work done in less time. People all over are looking for ways to feel less overwhelmed, scoot out of work earlier, or get more done without losing their minds. So much so that Stacy and Monica were even invited to give a talk about how we ventured into our four-day workweek to a national association.

As content recyclers, we looked at that beautiful talk slide deck and thought, "Geez, I bet other people would want to hear this too." Hence, the birth of this new podcast/blog post combo.

In this episode Stacy and Monica will give you an update on the current challenges we're trying to fix to maintain our four-day week and, from our recent presentation, we'll share:

• The 4 game-changing questions that helped us identify what to cut, automate, or lean into
• That one simple automation that saves Monica 20 minutes EVERY time she creates a podcast (and how you can do something similar)
• How tracking the right metrics completely changed our marketing strategy (and saved Monica hours of blog writing)
• Our actual list of productivity tools that made this all possible (we're not sponsored, we just love 'em!)
• The biggest mindset shifts that had to happen before any of this worked

Whether you're dreaming of a shorter work week, trying to leave the office in time for your kid's soccer game, or just want to stop feeling like your hair's on fire every day - there's something in here for you.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/4-day-work-week-update/

Small changes, big results. That's been our secret sauce. You can do it too.

After years of wandering trade show aisles like a couple of booth anthropologists, Stacy and Monica may have cracked the code on standing out without emptying your wallet.

We just dropped a new podcast episode that's basically our brain dump of every budget-friendly trade show hack we've discovered. Because let's be honest—those giant fancy booths with their LED walls and custom furniture? Yeah, most of us don't have that kind of cash lying around.

In our latest episode, we're sharing all our secrets on:

• Our "pattern-breaking" trick that makes people notice your booth first
• The $40 floor hack that literally everyone comments on
• Why you should never (ever!) sit behind your table like a receptionist
• The giveaways people actually keep vs. the expensive ones still sitting in our office closet (oops)
• How Canva + an old laptop = movement magic in your booth

As self-described "coupon clippers and thrift store shoppers," we've gotten pretty good at making our booth look impressive while keeping our accountant happy. Give it a listen!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: [MayeCreate.com]

Just like the other remaining humans on planet earth, us MayeCreaters survived this last year. And we like to think we’re humans who learn from the past and can use it with a heap of diligence and sprinkle old fashioned grit to chart our way forward to better things. 

Fortunately, and unfortunately, last year was a little itchy so we learned a lot. 

• Like how to make stuff load faster and look prettier at the same time. 
• How hackers like to hack things and ways to keep stuff away from those derelicts. 
• And how AI is shaping the way we work, from streamlining processes so we can skip work on Fridays, to offering us another choice on how we use the internet on a daily basis.

Now, not everyone eats, sleeps, lives, and breathes the internet. So, we organized our thoughts, predictions, and lessons learned into this week’s podcast/blog post combo as a present for all non-net-dwellers.

We’re documenting our itchy lessons learned in the hopes of helping you craft your own path forward. Because, let’s be real, you can’t afford to ignore the darn beast. And it’s a big ‘un.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: [link to episode on MayeCreate.com]

The number one rule of good website navigation is: don’t make people think.

Which sounds pretty straightforward but somehow people still keep messing it up! And that is why we are publishing this recent public service announcement all about navigation.

Monica’s husband, Mike, sends her angry emails about sites with crappy navigation on the regular. He says he’s sending her “leads” …she thinks maybe he just needs to vent. 

But either way - what he’s experiencing is exactly what we DON’T want people to feel when they’re on your site. You want them to feel welcome, in control and confident about working with your organization. Not rage clicking and sending emails to their wife!

Navigation is more than just the buttons on the top of your site, it’s also your opportunity to guide people through the site seamlessly. In this podcast/blog post combo Stacy and Monica break down:

✅ Best practices to make your main navigation simple & intuitive.

✅ Using internal navigation (breadcrumbs, callouts, search) like a GPS to guide visitors through your site

✅ The often-overlooked magic of well-organized footers

✅ Easy ways to gather data to tell is your navigation is busted

All to keep Mike happy and your website off his “leads list!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: [link to episode on MayeCreate.com]

This time of year Monica always feels like marketing is like wrestling an octopus. 

She sits at her desk, neck deep in spreadsheets attempting to befriend and calm the octopi - emails, social media, website updates… It’s a lot. 

That’s why she’s always looking for ways to pin that marketing mollusk. 

She went to Shelly Niehaus, her guest on this week’s podcast, for answers. Shelly is a business coach who works with entrepreneurs over 40, who sometimes feel like online marketing was designed by aliens. So her tips are practical, down-to-earth, and easy to implement. 

Think less overwhelm, more “I’ve got this!”

They talked about everything from repurposing content (because no one has time to start from scratch every week) to the magic of time-blocking. Here’s a quick preview of what you’ll get from this episode:

• Shelly shares how to simplify your marketing and focus on what works.
• Learn how to repurpose content and save yourself hours every month.
• Build an email list and stop relying on social media algorithms to get noticed.
• Time-blocking tips will make you feel like the boss you are.

Shelly’s advice is just what you need to kick off this new year, take a deep breath, and tackle your marketing like the octopus conquering ninja you are!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/simplifying-marketing-strategies-with-shelly-niehaus/

As the resident master of 2D spatial relationships at MayeCreate (aka print designer) these days, Monica is pretty strategic when selecting the program for a project. 

Over the past 25 years she’s learned the hard way how choosing the right program to start:

1. Saves time
2. Makes future projects easier
3. Produces a better design

So if you’re tasked with designing for your organization AND you find yourself doing things on repeat, taking longer than you’d like or are unhappy with the look of your designs maybe this latest episode will help. Monica is breaking down how she picks the right software for a project so hopefully you can too!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at:[MayeCreate.com]

Monica gets asked more and more frequently about how to get customers to leave reviews or make positive social posts for business. Which makes sense because marketing through user generated content is a powerful marketing tool.

1. You don’t have to brag about your awesomeness because other folks do it for you
2. Your raving fans create your marketing content for you
3. PLUS Google and social algorithms LOVE it

So why isn’t everyone doing it? To be fair, Monica feels like they just don’t know how. That’s why in this week’s podcast, Monica sat down with Lorraine Ball—entrepreneur, author, professional speaker, and host of More Than a Few Words. She’s been around the block (a few times) and leverages user generated content to market for her clients.

They’re talking:

• How to get your customers to leave amazing social media reviews (no begging required).
• What to do when someone leaves a not-so-glowing review (hint: don’t panic).
• Using AI tools for marketing to save time without losing your personal touch.

With multiple stories and examples to get your wheels turning. Trust us, it’s good stuff. 

Tag along with Monica for this week’s episode all about user generated content!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: mayecreate.com

“I have a Chrome extension for that!” became Monica’s catchphrase at one point, or so Stacy swore.

The MayeCreate team isn’t far behind.

We’re bonafide Chrome extension junkies. 

Some of us have collected so many we have to toggle them off and on so we don’t get overwhelmed! And we are forever recommending our favorite extensions to clients to save time and improve workflow. 

Like anything else, some Chrome extensions are awesome, while others are just ho-hum. Some are well-maintained and evolve with the browser, while others become stagnant and age out. This episode is packed with a few of the extensions we use on a nearly daily basis that stand the test of time and allow us to do more, faster!

So if you’re a marketer or just a human working at a computer and pressed for time and looking for ways to:

• Streamline your workflow
• Stop copying and pasting things into other applications
• Show someone revisions on a web based project, 
• Check your spelling and grammar
• OR even just be greeted by a super cute creature every time you fire up Chome…

Come hang out with us in this week’s episode as we gush about our favs and maybe find one or two Chrome extensions to try for yourself.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com

At lunch the other day a group of business people were complaining about how annoying their Google Business Profile is to use. 

Aaaaand they’re not wrong. But managing your profile is a necessary evil…like going to the dentist - you don’t have to love it but you do have to do it.

You want to show up when people search for you on Google, right?
Your Google Business Profile determines 9% of your organic search ranking.

Ever wondered how to get your business show up on the search results map?

Your Google Business Profile determines 32% of the factors that get you on that map.

And just like everything else Google there’s a trick to getting your profile set up correctly so you can use it to it’s fullest potential.

So in this episode Monica welcomes Marilyn Jenkins, CEO of MJ Media Group, to crack the code and teach us how to maximize our Google Business Profiles.

Marilyn shares some super simple ways to:

• Get more real reviews without feeling like a pest (we’ve all been there, right? )
• Show up in Google’s “Map Pack” (the top 3 spots that customers actually look at)
• Keep your profile updated so people trust you, click on you, and, oh yeah, buy from you

And the best part? It's easier than you think, once you know the tricks. So, give it a listen! You’ll be glad you did. 

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: [link to episode]

If you’ve ever wondered, "How many emails should we send in our year-end campaign?" Turns out, you're not alone! 

We get this question every year, and now, thanks to Jaime Freidrichs, a fundraising coach dedicated to helping small but mighty organizations succeed, and 71 nonprofit survey participants — we’ve got some real data to guide you.

In our latest episode (and blog post), we dive into the findings of Jaime’s study on the 2023 year-end email strategies of 71 nonprofits running online campaigns to understand:

• How frequently successful nonprofits emailed their supporters.
• The sweet spot for sending emails (without overloading your supporters).
• Surprising stats on email volume vs. meeting fundraising goals.

With this survey Jaime hopes to take at least SOME of the guesswork out of your year-end email strategy.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: [link to episode on MayeCreate.com]

A few weeks ago, Monica gave some tips on what to include on a business card and briefly mentioned QR codes, promising to dive deeper later. In this podcast/blog, Monica does just that!

Recording and writing this felt a bit like QR code therapy to Monica. Turns out she has some strong feelings about where, when and how to use them (I’m sure you’re super surprised ).

So…in this week's episode Monica’s sharing her QR tips and pet peeves including:

• What a QR code is and how it works
• When and where to use a QR code effectively
• Tips for selecting the right QR code generator
• A comparison of popular QR code tools
• Best practices for implementing QR codes

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: [MayeCreate.com]

All the marketing gurus are saying “transparency” and “authenticity” are the measure of good marketing these days. And that’s great and all, but if we’re honest the road map to get there isn’t super clear.

Unfortunately, there’s no universal yardstick for “authenticity.” It’s different for everyone. There is, however, a practical starting point to geo locating your version - defining your core values.

To explain just how this is done, Monica invited core values expert Andrea Johnson to join her on this episode of the Marketing with Purpose podcast. She makes it sound simple (and you know I love that!).

Here’s a quick rundown of the awesome stuff you’ll learn:

• How to pinpoint your core values to enhance your marketing and make your brand pop!
• Discover how being authentic builds trust with your audience—because nobody wants to feel like they’re talking to a robot, right?
• Get practical tips to align your values with your business decisions, so you’re not just winging it!

Get the episode highlights and full transcript at: [mayecreate.com]

Featured Resource: Marketing on a Shoestring

Monica thought everyone just knew what to put on a business card and how to design it so it’s a functional marketing tool. But, alas, a recent visit to a tradeshow revealed a sizable knowledge gap in that very area. 

You want your prospects and your clients to have a streamlined, easy interaction with you all the time, right? And anytime you have an opportunity to control that process we want to take advantage of it to give them the best possible experience with your company. 

This episode is all about how to do just that, with a lovely checklist to make your business card easy to use, beautiful, and a reliable representative of your organization.

Read the fully formatted blog post and download the checklist to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/what-to-put-on-a-business-card-plus-design-tips/ 

Featured Resource: Marketing on a Shoestring
https://youmayecreate.com/marketing-on-a-shoestring/ 

Monica sat down with Donna Dube, a business growth strategist who knows how to simplify marketing like a pro. Seriously, she’s got some killer tips that will make you say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Donna talked about the Eisenhower Matrix—sounds fancy, right? But it’s really just a smart way to prioritize what actually matters in your biz, not just the stuff that keeps you busy. Plus, Donna shared six CEO habits that’ll help you create marketing systems that practically run themselves. Imagine having more time to focus on what you love!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website:https://mayecreate.com/blog/simplify-marketing-strategy/ 

Stacy calls Monica the “idea factory”. And blog topics just happen to be her favorite thing to produce in idea factory mode.

In this episode, she’s firing up the factory to give you blog ideas out the wazoo AND share her framework she uses to make sure organizations are blogging about the right thing to meet the right people where they are. 

Join us in this “what to blog about” workshop style episode designed to transform you into a purposeful blog idea generating machine!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: [link to episode on MayeCreate.com]

Thank you to our featured resource sponsor:
What to Put on Your Website https://mayecreate.com/resource/what-to-put-on-your-website/

We’ve been honing in on our “why” at MayeCreate this year.  Studying the concept introduced by Simon Sinek, reading the Power of a Positive Team, redefining our core values, and updating our mission statement.

It’s been an incredible way to learn about each other and why we do what we do. MayeCreate’s “Core 4” (our senior team) has been together for over 10 years so we know in our gut why we keep at this business and website building thing.

But as we bring on new team members and refine our marketing efforts, we felt like we needed a documented why and purpose to guide us.

So with all this self-evaluation we’ve been doing, when Monica heard about Ian Chamandy, owner of Blueprint Business Architecture who helps organizations define the one thing that makes them uniquely remarkable – in 7 words or less…

She had to know…HOW!?!

Monica has a virtual stack of Google Docs piling up with all of her notes from this year, so HOW ON EARTH could she break it down into 7 words or less?

In this episode, Ian explains how it all comes together in 3 easy steps and morphs into a talisman to design how your organization is managed and how it will communicate.

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: [link to episode]

In a world dominated by flashy visuals and fleeting social media trends, you might wonder, "Is blogging still relevant?" 

9 out of 10 marketers use  blogging to achieve their content goals (SEMrush, 2023). That’s because it works. Blogging drives traffic to your site and traffic drives leads. Companies that blog have an average of 67% more leads each month than companies without blogs. (DemandMetric).

I know what you’re thinking, “But Monica, search is changing, right? So will blogging still work?”

True, back in April with our Guest, SEO expert, Nina Gibson cautioned that, search is changing but blogging is rolling with the punches. 75% of marketers believe that AI-enabled search engines will positively impact their blogs. (HubSpot State of Marketing Report, 2023).

So, bloggins is far from dead. Blogging isn't just about churning out boring AI generated paragraphs of text either; when done right blogging establishes expertise, drives traffic, and powers your marketing. 

In this episode I’m breaking it down and covering the most common questions I hear about blogging like:

Do you really have to blog and how often should you do it?

How do you set it up?

How to attract visitors. Ideas for monetization.

Mistakes to avoid and even how to measure success.

Monica’s brain turned into an idea factory while interviewing this week's guest, Shannon Houchin, owner of Roadside Republic.

Yes, this episode is all about the success of roadside stands selling peaches, which is really fun all on its own. AND it’s also packed with ideas to locally market your business or organization.

So.

Before you do another carwash or bakesale for your nonprofit…

Before you choose the next location for your business…

Before you decide on a marketing tactic to connect with a local audience…

You need to listen to this episode. 

Because Shannon promotes her 200 roadside produce stands across three states so she is a master at hyper-local marketing. Monica almost shut down her company and started selling peaches after talking to her (and she’s only kind of kidding).

Shannon explains everything from exactly how she chooses the right location, to what to say on Facebook to get people excited and coming back for more.

Come hang out with Shannon and Monica and get those ideas flowing!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/hyper-local-marketing-shannon-houchin/

Featured Resource: Marketing on a Shoestring
https://youmayecreate.com/marketing-on-a-shoestring/

I hear alot about nonprofit boards. 

(Sometimes as web designers we get mistaken for marketing therapists…aaaaand tech support…)

But while we work with boards to build websites…I don’t have to manage one. My advice in that area is limited at best. I do, however, see first hand how an engaged board could make marketing your nonprofit a WHOLE lot easier.

I sure do wish I had a magic board motivating fairy godmother I could loan out to you. A lovely little winged creature to pixie dust your board right on into shape.

But alas, my access to board managing fairy godmothers is limited…actually it’s pretty negligible.

So today I’m bringing the next best thing…

11 inspiring nonprofit leaders — sharing their actionable advice on the best ways to get your board involved with your marketing efforts. 

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/nonprofit-board-marketing-engagement-strategies/

Featured Resource: Year End Campaign Planning Checklist

https://mayecreate.com/resource/year-end-campaign-planning-checklist/

Choosing the colors for your brand is a combo of art, psychology and science. 

Aaaaand unfortunately there aren’t hard and fast rules to follow. There are, however, quite a few things to consider before putting the final stamp of approval on your logo and brand colors. And that’s what this episode is all about.

Monica talks you through choosing the right logo and brand color combo to:

1. Reflect your brand personality
2. Provide reliable design options
3. Allow you to set yourself apart from the competition

Read the fully formatted blog post AND watch a quick tutorial on planning your brand pallet in Canva at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/good-logo-colors-best-combinations/

Happy coloring!

P.S. If you want to know more about color theory - how colors work together, affect your emotions and how you perceive things - check out our previous episode/blog post combo!

Featured Resource: Marketing on a Shoestring

https://youmayecreate.com/marketing-on-a-shoestring/?utm_source=mayecreate_CTA

Have you ever stopped to think about why red dominates fast food chain brands while banks gravitate towards green? 

It’s because colors impact everything from our mood to our appetite. And those branding pros know color is just one more tool in their marketing tool box. Between 62% and 90% of a product’s first impressions are determined by its colors.

If you've ever wondered why your logo's color matters or what they mean, this episode is just for you! 

MayeCreate’s co-art directors, Monica and Tyler, teamed up to plan this long anticipated and totally dorky chat explaining the basics of color theory and how different colors make people feel.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/color-theory-for-brands/ 

P.S. Stay tuned for our next episode too!  We’re putting all this color theory into action explaining how to choose good logo and brand colors with a tutorial to do it yourself!

Featured Resource: Marketing on a Shoestring

https://youmayecreate.com/marketing-on-a-shoestring/?utm_source=mayecreate_CTA

If you have a really small marketing department, (like maybe just a quarter of a person ) this episode is for you.

MayeCreate's own marketing team waivers between a half and full person (and at least one dog) depending on the day, so when Sarah said she had tips to get it done faster, we were all ears.

In this interview Sarah shares her 4 C framework to get organized, get results and most of all…get it done:

1. Core Content: Think of it like the bread and butter of your content strategy - stuff like regular podcasts, blog posts, or live streams. It's what keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.
   
   
2. Campaign Content: This is all about promoting your latest offers or products. Content tailored to support your marketing campaigns and grab your audience's attention.
   
   
3. Collab Content: Where you team up with others, like doing guest spots on podcasts or co-creating content with industry experts. It broadens your audience, builds relationships, and taps into the expertise of others.
   
   
4. Curated Content: All about sharing existing content that your audience will love. It could be compiling podcasts, articles, or videos from different sources into handy lists or guides. It saves you time and provides value to your audience at the same time.

Dig into each of the 4 C’s with Sarah and I, PLUS get the skinny on the tools she loves that keep her marketing running.

Get the full transcription and show notes for this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/4c-content-marketing-method-sarah-block/ 

Tyler and Rebecca, MayeCreate’s lead developers, are super, mega smart.

Everyday we find new reasons to be thankful to have them on our team.

And in today’s episode you get to meet them as they lift the hood to peer inside the websites at MayeCreate and document the WordPress plugins they deem good enough to make the cut. 

They explain:

• Using plugins responsibly.
• Must have plugins to make your site show up on Google and load quickly.
• The best compliance and security plugins.
• Plus plugins that solve problems and put websites to work. 

Monica shares her favorites as well and jumps in from time to time and translate their tech awesomeness for our less techy listeners

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode with links to all these awesome plugins at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/good-to-great-wordpress-plugins/

A pretty website is one thing. One that sells is quite another.

And writing copy that sells is not easy! It’s a marriage of education and psychology, both an art and a science.

In this episode, our favorite sales copywriter tells just how she does it, workshop style!

Tiff Carey digs deep into levers we can pull for major conversions including:

1. How to use sexy bullets to entice window shoppers to become long-time buyers
2. Using social proof/testimonials to carry prospects through the sales conversation
3. When to replace emotional appeals with data/factoids to gain reader trust
4. Using buttons - how many is too many and how many isn't enough

Transform your copy from pretty to profitable with Tiff's advice!

Get the full transcript and links to Tiff’s contact info on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/creating-a-sales-page-that-sells/

We promised you in Podcasting 101 Part 1 that Monica would flip on her tech switch and now she's here to deliver.

She geeked out (and loved EVERY minute of it ) explaining the ins and outs of:

1. Hardware: We start with the basics - microphones. Then dig into essential accessories to enhance your recording setup and minimize background noise.
2. Software: Navigating recording and editing software can be daunting, but fear not. We outline options for beginners along with tips for remote interviews to maintain audio quality.
3. Podcast Hosting: Hosting service comparison complete with checklist to help you pick the one that’s right for you.
4. Podcast Website: The best ways to share your podcast on your site from simple to SEO boosting.
5. Production Management: Tips to save time and streamline your podcasting workflow plus our favorite tools.

Join Monica in this Podcasting 101 Part 2 episode to put your podcast startup tech worries to rest!

Read the fully formatted blog post and download the PDF guide to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/podcasting-101-podcast-startup-tech-talk/

Make sure to hop back over to part 1 of this series for our podcast start up checklist to guide you through 3 strategic pre-recording decisions: Your human resources (for set up and production), publishing schedule, and show details.

We’ve fielded a lot of questions about starting podcasts lately. Enough questions we started to think the universe was telling us we should do a few podcasts about starting a podcast. 

Luckily, with over 200 episodes under our belt, we're getting this whole podcast thing figured out.

We cataloged our misadventures and advice into two podcast focused episodes starting right here with:

Podcasting 101 Part 1: Getting Started Checklist 

A practical checklist to guide you through the essential 3 pre-recording decisions: your show's human resources, frequency, and brand details.

Read the fully formatted blog post and download the PDF guide accompanying this  episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/podcasting-101-getting-started-checklist/

Stay tuned for Podcasting 101 Part 2: Tech Talk 

(This publishes in a few weeks but you can listen now on our website!)

In this episode we go full tech geek on you and explain the ins and outs of choosing the right equipment, technical aspects of recording, editing, podcast website set up, podcast host comparisons, and production management tips.

Monica is a website builder by trade…you’ve probably figured that out by now. 

But a website that can’t be found is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. 

Which makes her a student of SEO…FOREVER. Because it changes faster than a Nascar pit crew. 

And it’s not one dimensional either, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is mutli-faceted. The MayeCreate team’s responsibility is to build a website Google can be friends with. Which is a huge part of the SEO pie. But what about all the other things?

That’s where Nina Gibson comes in. She’s done SEO for some big brands…Yankee Candle, Caboodles, Orvis, National Geographic to name a few.

Monica got to pick her brain in this episode and ask questions like:

1. How does SEO work?
2. What common mistakes do we need to avoid?
3. What changes is Google making right now that we need to know about?
4. How is AI affecting SEO?

She took a lot of notes from this episode…so grab a pen and paper (or just download the transcript) and let’s get to some SEO business!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: 
https://mayecreate.com/blog/seo-fundamentals-2024-forecast-with-guest-nina-gibson/

Domain

Hosting

Website

Sooooo intangible…yet so important for your business. We talk about these things everyday but for normal humans they’re a question factory…

• What even is a domain? 
• How do you get one? 
• How do you connect it to everything?
• And what the heck is hosting? 
• Do you need it?
• How do you know which one you need?

So if you’re up to your neck in questions, this episode is for you.

Together we'll unravel the role of domain name and domain registrars then move on to decode hosting for you—shared, VPS, dedicated—so you can know which is right for you.

Let's get to business!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-domain-hosting-and-website/

The latest episode of Marketing with Purpose, features none other than Chris West, President of West Contracting. ️

Chris and his team spent the past year in a cycle of change, reevaluating their internal structure, figuring out what works and what doesn't, and charting their course for the future. 

As part of their marketing team, it's been awesome to be a part of the journey!

Today we’ll dig into:

• How they are continuing to strengthen company culture through recent changes but keeping what works, including their employees, who have an average tenure of over 10 years!
• What it's like working in a family business (Chris is the 3rd generation to manage West Contracting) and how they transitioned from each generation to keep the company strong.
• Tap into Chris's never-give-up attitude. Even if you're a steadfast procrastinator like him, he's got some wisdom to share on how to still get things done and find success.

We've been lucky enough to get to work with Chris for many years now and are proud to share his story through the West Contracting marketing. Now, we're excited to get to share it with you in this episode! 

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/paving-the-way-insights-from-three-generations-of-success-with-guest-chris-west/

In this week’s Marketing with Purpose episode we're tackling a topic that hits close to home for many of us - quite literally.

Working from home with your spouse and managing to:

• Not go nuts
• Get your work done 
• AND stay married

Tyler and Christi Ernst have been remote working from the same ROOM for the past 4 years…and they still like each other!  

So we had to know their secret.

Tyler is our lead developer and co-art director at MayeCreate, and luckily he and his wife, Christi, share an office - because we regularly consult Christi for a second opinion!

In this episode Tyler and Christi delve into:

• The communication patterns that allow them to harmoniously work and live in the same space
• Challenges to expect when working from home with your spouse and how they overcame them
• Their secret test to tell if a couple can work the same space

And, of course, like any other normal episode, we discussed powerlifting and sourdough baking ️ !

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-work-from-home-with-your-spouse-and-not-go-nuts-with-guests-tyler-christi-ernst/

You know how Monica LOVES to geek out about podcasting? OK, not quite as much as she loves geeking out about websites…but close !

And recently, on the Marketing with Purpose podcast, Monica had the pleasure of geeking out WITH another podcasting veteran with over 300 episodes under his belt, Khalil Benalioulhaj.

He likes podcasting so much he started a business to help people run their podcasts. Now, that’s taking it to a whole new level…

Here's a sneak peek of what they covered in the episode:

• Remote recording benefits and production efficiency
• Understanding podcast analytics and measuring success
• Leveraging podcasts as a sales and marketing tool
• Plus, expert tech solutions to make your life easier!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: http://mayecreate.com/blog/podcasting-lessons-from-khalil-compelling-content-guest-tips-roi-more/

When MayeCreate opened the new Camdenton office, Stacy and Monica needed a spot to meet up in between. They lucked into a relatively new co-working space, Jefferson and High that rekindled Monica’s belief that customer service is your number one marketing tool as a small business.

So Monica invited owner, Chris Galloway, to give us a rundown of the seamless tech integrations, onboarding process and snacks that keep his customers coming back time and time again.

If you’re craving customer service inspiration, there’s a thing or two to learn about this growing co-working space. (Warning…this episode may result in a craving for Cheetos .)

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website: http://mayecreate.com/blog/how-one-co-working-space-markets-through-great-customer-service-with-owner-chris-galloway/

How are you at saying, “No”?

Monica always says, "it took birthing two kids and attempting to run a business at the same time" for her to get her head on straight and master her ‘no’ game. 

See, ‘yes’ can be a dangerous game for a busy human. Each yes has to align with your priorities.

‘Yes’ is about putting your energy where it matters most.

‘No’ is about protecting that energy for the next opportunity to say ‘yes’.

So really…No is it’s buddy Yes’s superhero! 

In this episode, Stacy, a self-proclaimed yes-gal, and Monica turn the tables on the guilt of ‘no’. Talking through their internal dialogue, and how they reason their way to the answer that uses their energy where it counts. Giving tips on:

• The consequences of yes
• The art of saying no nicely
• Strategies for feeling OK about saying no
• Dealing with negative feedback from your decision to say no

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/saying-no-in-a-nice-way-and-feeling-ok-about-it/

Over the past 18 years change is the one of the only things that has remained constant as in our business.

And some people love it…other people…not so much. 

That’s why we talk about it so much on the Marketing with Purpose podcast. Because to make marketing and business decisions with purpose we have to be able to embrace the idea that things WILL change and then figure out WHAT the heck needs to change and make a plan to pull it all together.

In our latest episode, Monica sat down with Paden Squires, CPA & CFP at WR Tax Planners, who while helping our company evolve…has changed his company just as much.

They covered everything from:

• Paden quitting a cushy job to do taxes in his living room. 
• How Paden’s the only tax accountant we know who wears a hoodie in his website photos.
• The importance of self-awareness in business.
• Struggles with delegation and perfectionism.
• And our favorite…transitioning from the warrior to king stages of success.

Get the episode highlights and full transcript at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/the-power-of-persistence-from-tax-consulting-to-triumph-with-guest-paden-squires/

If you’ve been following along this last year, you know that MayeCreate is on a full on journey to operate in a way that meets our values, both as a team and as individuals. We transitioned to a four day workweek after testing it out in May and that amazing feat was years in the making. To work less and not get paid less meant we had to reevaluate nearly everything we did.

We started by streamlining all our administrative tasks.

Then moved on to revamp the way our designers and developers build websites.

We changed how we bill, schedule and estimate work…

But we were still stuck in the office 5 days a week. 

So we took a step back to the one thing we held onto like a lifeline though it all. Something we had nursed like a baby and developed through 18 years of hard work.

Our account service process.

I remember sitting in my office and looking at Stacy and shaking my head saying, “It’s the only thing left, so it has to be wrong, I don’t know how to fix it but we can’t leave it like it is. It just doesn’t work.”

And after many discussions we birthed a whole new brainchild that’s even better than the last, one that creates better websites, faster, with less mistakes, that meets our current version of success…

And that, friend is what this episode is all about - knowing when to let go and celebrating the courage it took on the other side. Come join the party!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/we-totally-revamped-our-18-year-process-and-it-rocks/

My 9 year old daughter, Aveleen, decided she wants to be a Chamber of Commerce director when she grows up, after meeting K.C. Cloke, our local Chamber director and guest for this week’s episode.

I think that Aveleen will make an amazing Chamber director one day. That girl’s got what it takes to make stuff happen and a sunshine spirit to back it up…and she’s going to need it!

I’ve been part of large Chambers of Commerce and small. 

Been on committees - ones that just act important and those that really are important. Gotten business and gotten squat.

And from experience I can say:

1. They’re all different.
2. Your involvement drives your outcomes.
3. It’s more of a marathon than a sprint.

So if you’re on the fence about joining your local Chamber or just want to know what a Chamber does, this episode is for you!

Join K.C. and I as she fields questions and explains all things Chamber of Commerce. Her enthusiasm for business and candid can-do attitude will win you over…just ask Aveleen!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/what-does-the-chamber-of-commerce-do-and-why-join-with-guest-k-c-cloke/

In the third and final episode of our small business tech stack series, Travis, Stacy, and I geek out about the thrilling world of business management tools. 

Brace yourself for the drama because, truth be told, we're so attached to these tools that they're pretty much our besties.

We all agree…

If we won a big, fancy business award – our heartfelt shoutouts go to our…

…CRM, 

…Project Management, and (drum roll please!) our

…Financial Management tools 

Our ride-or-die companions. Couldn't have done it without them.

Alright, enough drama.

Let’s get to business…business management tools!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/small-business-tech-stack-3-business-management-tools/

Remember when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and we used to go to computer labs to write papers ️?

And you had to bring a floppy disk that wasn’t actually floppy to save your work. 

(It didn’t just auto save itself to the cloud, you actually had to press SAVE.)

And what about that time when you forgot your disk in the lab. 

Couldn’t find it and had to start allllll over again…

…only to have one of our classmates turn in your paper as their own .

Wait, that wasn’t you. That was Travis! 

(My brother and co-owner of Tranquility Internet Services)

And the fuel for his mission to keep businesses safe from hackers. 

Pair that fuel with the spark Stacy and I have to market with purpose and that’s all you need to know this 2nd installment of the small business tech stack series will be just inspiration (or kick in the pants) you need to get going on tech-ifying your business. 

Join my two favorite geeks ❤️❤️ and I as we dive into our favorite:

1. Online Marketing Tools
   The tools we love to save time and streamline marketing.
   
   
2. Analytics and Data Insights
   Free solutions to track website performance and make data-driven decisions.
   
   
3. Cyber Security and Data Protection
   What you need to protect against hackers and keep your data safe.

Let’s tech-ify!

P.S. Need more small business tech?

Check out episode 1 of this series dedicated to communication and efficiency tools and stay tuned for episode 3 about business management solutions.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/small-business-tech-stack-2-online-marketing-cyber-security-tools/

Tech is NOT the enemy.

It’s more than just a subscription service. It’s a member of your team. Allowing you to more efficiently and effectively deliver on our clients expectations AND create time for ourselves. 

Let’s rephrase that - The right tech makes people happy, makes money and gives you the ability to walk away from your business and back into your life.

Hang out with our host, Monica,  Stacy Brockmeier, MayeCreate’s chief wearer of many hats, and Travis Schumacher, co-owner of Tranquility Internet Services, as they team up in a three part series outlining the essential small business tech stack. 

This episode outlines:

1. Where to start  (how to know what you need…)
2. Communication and collaboration tools
3. ⏰ Efficiency tools

Stay tuned over the next two weeks for two more small business tech stack episodes:

• Episode 2: Marketing and Cybersecurity
• Episode 3: Business Management Tools

Can't wait to share the tech love with you!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at:https://mayecreate.com/blog/small-business-tech-stack-1-communication-efficiency-tools/

You know, freshening up your website is a lot like renovating a house. 

Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint is all you need, but other times, you've got to rip out a wall and burn all the furniture. 

We’ve all had those moments at the end of a long weekend with the kids cooped up inside, when we look around our house and think “it would honestly be easier to burn this thing down than to clean it.” 

Aaaand we end up cleaning it because somehow it seems more fun than going to jail for arson…

Arson and kid tornadoes aside, when it comes to your website sometimes starting over is the best option. 

But how do you KNOW which path to take?!?

In this episode, my chief wearer of many hats, Stacy and I will guide you through the decision making process so you know if you need to update, re-template or just start over fresh.

In today's episode, we're diving deep into the age-old question, "Should I refresh my website or completely redo it?"

You know, it's a lot like renovating a house. Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint is all you need, but other times, you've got to rip out a wall and burn all the furniture. 

We’ve all had those moments at the end of a long weekend with the kids cooped up inside, when we look around our house and think “it would honestly be easier to burn this thing down than to clean it.” 

And because we don’t want to go to jail for arson we clean it…

Good news is though rebuilding your website is not nearly as hard as building a new house. And sometimes starting over is the best option. 

In this episode, I’ve paired up with my chief wearer of many hats, Stacy. We'll be your digital contractors, guiding you through the decision making process.

We’ll explore the signs that tell you it's time for an update and when you need a full-blown overhaul. We'll discuss everything from how to handle small cosmetic fixes, like rearranging the furniture in your online home, to  the telltale signs that your website might have sprung a few leaks or even time-traveled from the '90s.

Let's get to business!

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/website-refresh-vs-redesign-when-to-walk-away-from-your-website/

People make a lot of mistakes in web design. 

Some are tiny. Others blow up your whole site. 

We’ve fought a lot of web fires over the past 18 years. 

From accidentally deleting your admin user to expired domain names captured by pirates. 

Some we’ve learned the hard way…others we just had to fix. 

Sometimes your secret to success is knowing what you don’t know. 

And that’s what this episode is ALL about! 

I invited my wearer of many hats, Stacy, to reminisce about some of simple and creative ways we’ve seen people nuke their sites so you can learn from the mistakes of others and can keep your website not just running but thriving.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/mistakes-in-web-design-11-sure-fire-ways-to-break-your-site/

I LOVE WORDPRESS (in case you didn’t know). 

Like as in want to marry it, did marry it, and won’t cheat on it…

I don’t build sites in anything else.

But there are A LOT of choices out there. And I don’t always advise people to use WordPress…so how do YOU know if WordPress is right for you?

In this episode I called in Stacy, my chief wearer of many hats, to help figure it out.

We've got a checklist to help you decide. Starting with your goals and tech ability all the way down to automating your business practices.

Should you use wordpress? Let's find out!

Read the lovely formatted blog post accompanying this episode on our website:
https://mayecreate.com/blog/who-should-use-wordpress/