Weekly newsletter brought to your inbox every Wednesday, by your friends at Elite Blog Academy®—full of valuable insider marketing tips, tricks and inspiration to help you keep pushing forward when the days get long.

FEATURED READS

Remember that time someone went viral for live-tweeting their daughter’s birth on Twitter?  Remember the fame and lasting success that came as a result? Probably not, and that’s actually our point. 

Going viral doesn’t pay.

While it can be very exciting when a social media post or blog content goes viral, it’s not a winning strategy. Eventually, everyone moves on to the next big thing. So what DOES pay? We’re sharing the 5 steps to building a brand on social media in today’s post on the EBA blog!

POWER MOVES

The 4 Ps of Marketing (For the Digital Age)

The online business world is an exciting place, full of businesses with the common goal of helping people (and making money in the process!). But how do you stand out from the crowd and attract customers? 

This is the essence of marketing, and for decades, marketers have relied on a compass to guide them: the 4 Ps of Marketing. Product, Price, Place and Promotion—these seemingly simple principles have helped businesses chart a course to success. But in today's evolving online world, do these Ps still hold relevance? Absolutely! Let's explore how they've transformed to work for the digital marketplace.

Product: No longer confined to physical shelves, your product can now be a robust online course, a downloadable software program or even a virtual consultation. The key is understanding your dream customer’s needs on a deeper level. Online tools provide a treasure trove of customer data and feedback. Use this information to refine your product offering, ensuring it resonates with your ideal customer and solves their specific problems.

Price: Gone are the days of fixed price tags. Online platforms offer a buffet of pricing strategies.  Subscription models allow for recurring revenue, while low entry point offers can entice new customers. Data analysis is your friend here. By understanding customer behavior and competitor pricing online, you can find the sweet spot between profitability and value perception.

Place: Remember brick-and-mortar stores? While they still hold a place (pun intended), your online presence is now your prime storefront. Your website, social media platforms and online shops are your virtual headquarters. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensures your target audience can easily find you in the vast digital landscape, while Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising can put you right in front of their searching eyes.

Promotion: The bygone era of mass media advertising is just a faint memory. Today, targeted online promotion reigns supreme. Social media marketing allows you to connect directly with your audience, while email marketing fosters deeper relationships. Influencer marketing leverages the power of trusted voices to spread the word about your brand. But remember, forget flashy sales pitches. Compelling content, interactive experiences and building a genuine online community are crucial for capturing hearts and minds (and ultimately, wallets) in the digital age.

The beauty of online marketing lies in the interconnectedness of the 4 Ps. The content you share on your website (Product) can influence your pricing strategy (Price). Compelling social media promotion (Promotion) can drive traffic to your online store (Place). By understanding these connections and leveraging the endless amount of customer data available online, you can develop a winning online marketing strategy that outlasts trends and stands the test of time. 

SHE MEANS BUSINESS

This week we want to introduce you to Kristin Escalera of Raising Disciples Mom. 

Kristin started her business for three main reasons: to glorify God, grow closer to Him and help others. A major life change—when her spouse lost his job—became her driving force. Pain is a great motivator, and after years of dreaming about starting her blog, this trial pushed her to finally take the plunge!

There was just one problem. She had no idea how to make money with a blog. Just recently she shared that she caught herself still calling it a “blog” even though she knows it’s a business. 

Because a blog by itself doesn't make you money. 

Joining the EBA community showed her how to monetize her passions and dreams when she was just spinning her wheels writing content and hearing crickets. She shared that had she not had this community and path to follow, it is likely that she would have quit because the progress was so slow.

And we love Kristin’s story because we have been able to watch in real time as she has changed the way she looks at her blog, ahem, her business. And that alone was a massive shift in her mindset.

And yes, following the framework we teach and being a part of the community have been a big part of her success. As a result, she went from 3 subscribers to over 20,000 in her first year. She made her first sale quickly and was making consistent money within her first 3 months. Last year she hit her goal of having a 5-figure income and is now working toward 6 figures. And while all of those achievements make us so happy for her and her family. Do you know what stands out to us the most?

She wouldn’t have been able to follow the framework and reach those milestones if she didn’t do something for herself first. She had to get out of her own way. 

It's all too easy to get stuck focusing on the problems here and now. It takes grit and a reminder of the bigger picture. And this is something that Kristin has done SO well that ultimately has made a big difference in her business. She committed to following the framework and not losing sight of the big picture. 

Having a limited mindset, imposter syndrome, fear, discouragement, analysis paralysis—you name it, all of these are reasons businesses never take off. And they come from inside you. You are getting in your own way. 

When asked if she has any advice for business owners, she said:

“Running a business requires determination, grit, and consistency. You don't have to be the expert or the most talented writer, coach, or whatever. You just have to show up day after day for yourself and your customers. Commit to learning, being consistent, and yes, falling down. If you're not falling down from time to time, it means you're not taking any risks. And remember, the only way to truly fail is to not try at all.

Change is hard—it's uncomfortable, annoying, and even painful. But change is also good, necessary, and rewarding. Don't fear change, don't fear failure. Embrace it, get close to that edge, and then just jump off. You can't see where you'll land, that's why it takes courage and faith. Courage isn't the absence of fear; it's the decision to take your best next step in the face of fear.”

Kristin now has 32,000 subscribers. She regularly sells her lower-end product, Raising Disciples Bootcamp, and launches her signature course a few times a year. She is currently writing her first book, and recently launched a membership program to help Christian moms go from feeling exhausted and frustrated with children not listening to experiencing more peace and joy and their children listening.

She’s also gradually growing the coaching side of her business with one-to-one sessions and getting certified as a Biblical Church Counselor. 

She has grown so much as a business owner because every day she faces her fears, pushes her limits and steps out of her comfort zone. 

And to her it is worth it when she receives messages from the customers whose lives have been transformed because of her work.There is no greater reward for her than knowing she is making a difference. 

Now we have a question for you, do you get in your own way?

If this story resonated with you and you are ready to step out of your own way, we invite you to enroll in our Powerhouse program. 

This is a complete framework that walks you through setting up and growing an online business. But it starts with Phase Zero, which we call Mission and this is where you will work on your mindset and learn to get out of your own way so that you are able to make real progress in your business journey this year.

You can enroll now by clicking the button below! 

Or you can sign up for our free training, Firestarter, to learn more about the program and even gain access to a one-time savings on Powerhouse. This is the lowest price you will see for this program! You can sign up for the training HERE! 

WE’VE GOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT

Do it Scared® Fear Assessment

Did you know that not all fear is created equal? Discover your Fear Archetype™ and learn how your unique fears may be holding you back. Find out your top Fear Archetype for free today by clicking HERE or the button below.

Follow us on Instagram

If you’re looking for high-level online marketing and business strategy, you’ll want to follow Ruth’s high-level business Instagram account. It’s for serious online business owners, content creators and digital markets who want to go beyond the basics—and the content is already SO good!

MINDSET MATTERS

The Cure for Decision Fatigue

Entrepreneurs wear many hats. From marketing strategy to product development, every day brings a never-ending stream of decisions. While the freedom to choose is empowering, this constant barrage can lead to a hidden enemy: decision fatigue. 

Imagine your brain as a muscle. Every decision you make uses up a bit of energy, and just like any muscle, it can get tired. When decision fatigue sets in, your ability to make clear, rational choices suffers. The result? You might settle for the easy option, miss out on opportunities or even make downright bad calls.

But fear not, there are ways to combat decision fatigue and keep your entrepreneurial mind sharp. 

Here's your action plan:

1. Batch Similar Decisions: Group similar tasks together. Dedicate a specific time to answer emails, schedule social media posts or review product options. This reduces the context switching that drains your mental energy.

2. Leverage Automation: Free yourself from the small stuff. Use scheduling tools for social media, outsource repetitive tasks and automate simple decision-making processes.

3. Prioritize like a Boss: Not all decisions are created equal. Identify the most critical choices that will have a significant impact on your business. Focus your mental energy on these and delegate or defer less crucial ones.

4. Establish Decision-Making Frameworks: Create a set of criteria to evaluate options. This reduces the mental strain of analyzing everything from scratch. For example, have a framework for evaluating new marketing channels or investment opportunities.

5. Schedule Decision-Making Breaks: Just like your body needs rest, so does your brain. Schedule time slots throughout your day where you don't make any decisions. Use this time for relaxation, exercise or simply clearing your head.

6. Delegate & Trust Your Team: You don't have to do it all yourself. Empower your team to make decisions within their area of expertise. This frees you up for the big-picture thinking and reduces your decision-making load.

7. Power Down & Recharge: Burnout is a recipe for bad decisions. Ensure you get enough sleep, prioritize healthy meals and schedule regular breaks to recharge. A well-rested mind makes better choices.

By implementing these practical strategies, you can tame decision fatigue and ensure you're always making your best choices. Remember, a sharp and focused mind is your greatest asset as an entrepreneur. So, take control of your decision-making process and watch your business thrive.

MARKETING FUN FACT

Cat content reigns supreme! An estimated 20 billion cat videos are watched online every month. (Like this one!)