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

Do you ever stare out the window at 3 pm, daydreaming of being your own boss? The fluorescent lights suddenly seem a little harsher, the clock a little louder. The truth is, that many of us crave the freedom and flexibility that comes with building our businesses. It's the allure of setting your own schedule, pursuing your passion and being the architect of your own success.

 If that feeling resonates with you, then you're in the right place. This week’s blog post dives deep into the realities (and possibilities) of leaving your 9-5 to chase your entrepreneurial dreams with 10 Crucial Steps to Quitting Your Job and Starting an Online Business.

POWER MOVES

Leverage Google for Laser-Focused Target Market Research

Getting to know your ideal customer is crucial for marketing success. But how do you find them without aimlessly casting a net? Google, your everyday search engine, holds a treasure trove of target market insights—if you know where to look! 

Here's how to unlock its power:

Master Google Trends: This free tool unveils search trends on a global or regional scale. Type in terms related to your product or service and see what piques your target audience's interest. Analyze search volume fluctuations over time to identify seasonal trends. Explore "Related Queries" and "Related Topics" to discover unexpected interests and buying behaviors. This intel helps you tailor messaging and offerings to resonate with what truly matters to your ideal customer.

Leverage the Power of Keywords: Think of keywords as the questions your target audience asks online. Use Google Keyword Planner to identify popular search terms related to your industry. Dive deeper into long-tail keywords—more specific phrases people use— to target niche audiences. Analyze search volume and competition to prioritize which keywords to optimize your website and online content for. This ensures you show up in the searches your ideal customer conducts.

Spy on Your Competition (Ethically!): Enter your competitor's brand name or website into Google Trends. See what terms they rank for and identify any gaps in their strategy. Analyze their online presence. What kind of content do they create? Who do they seem to target? This competitive analysis helps you differentiate your brand and target a narrower audience segment within your industry.

Harness the Power of Google Alerts: Set up automated alerts for keywords and industry news. This keeps you informed about relevant conversations, trending topics and potential customer pain points. You can then adapt your marketing strategy to address emerging issues and opportunities.

Leverage Google My Business (GMB): Claim and optimize your GMB listing to improve local search visibility. Encourage positive customer reviews and respond to inquiries promptly. This builds trust and positions your business as the go-to solution for your target audience within your local area.

Remember, Google is a dynamic research tool. By consistently using these strategies, you'll gain a deeper understanding of your target market, allowing you to craft highly targeted messaging and campaigns that resonate with the right people at the right time.

WE’VE GOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT

Level up your branding TODAY!

Our done-for-you branding and funnel kit is THE resource you need if you’re not a graphic designer, or don’t want to spend thousands of dollars hiring one. And even better, it’s available right now for 85% off. Get yours by midnight Friday, before it goes back into the vault.

MINDSET MATTERS

Conquer Your Summer Schedule with Balance

Summer's here! Sun, fun and...work deadlines? Don't let the carefree vibes of the season throw your business goals off track. We all know summer can wreak havoc on our schedules, especially with vacations, kids out of school and the constant pull to enjoy the warm summer months. 

Here are some simple mindset tips to help you stay focused on what matters most in your business, even amidst the summer madness:

1. Embrace the micro-win: Summer's not about marathon work sessions. Aim for short bursts of focused activity. Knock out a crucial task before the kids wake up, or dedicate a lunch break to strategizing. Celebrate these micro-wins—they add up!

2. Protect your time: Be ruthless with your time. Block out dedicated "work hours" in your calendar and treat them like unshakable appointments. This ensures you carve out focused time for your business amidst the summer chaos.

3. Identify your priorities: Not all tasks are created equal. Identify the 3-5 activities that drive the most progress for your business. Focus on these high-impact tasks during your dedicated work hours.

4. Batch it up: Similar tasks grouped together create an efficienct flow. Schedule dedicated times for emails, phone calls or social media content creation. Batching minimizes context switching and keeps you in the zone.

5. Delegate like a dream team leader: Don't be a one-man (or woman) show! Can household chores be outsourced? Can older kids help with simple business tasks? Delegate what you can to free up your valuable entrepreneurial energy.

6. Reframe your mindset: Summer isn't your enemy! See it as an opportunity for creativity and inspiration. A walk on the beach can spark a new business idea, or a family outing can provide valuable customer insights.

7. Embrace the power of "No": Don't feel obligated to accept every summer invitation. It's okay to prioritize your business goals and say "no" to some social engagements. A clear calendar equals a clear headspace for your business needs.

Remember, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is key. Don't get so caught up in business that you miss out on the joys of summer. Take breaks, soak up the sunshine and recharge! By adding in these mindset shifts, you can keep your business on the right track while still enjoying all summer has to offer.

SHE MEANS BUSINESS

This week we want to introduce you to Lisa from Going Mogul. 

We have had over 15,000 students in our programs over the years and we don’t play favorites, but if we did, our favorite students would probably be like Lisa. 

She is currently going through our Powerhouse program and we just received this message from her:

“Joining Powerhouse is one of the best business decisions and investments I've made. As a long-time business owner, I knew all the foundational skills. But Ruth Soukup makes you actually put it all together by PROVING you've done the work. This forces you to stop thinking, perfecting, and procrastinating and take REAL ACTION. If you need your fire lit, this is the program to get you ignited!”

Since Lisa started her business, she is not afraid to dig into the work, she is not afraid to learn new technology and she most certainly does not give up when something does not work as expected. 

Her business is a priority. 

She just needed the strategy to know how to pull all of the things together that she had learned.

Especially in today’s day and age, there is an INSANE amount of information out there for business owners. Truly insane. It’s enough to make any busy entrepreneur want to throw in the towel. 

But Lisa didn’t! 

Lisa could see the value in education but also in having a path to follow and a coach to help her reach her goals. And we are so excited to see that she was able to get so much clarity, but even more excited to see how much action she has taken as a result! 

If you need a path and a coach, you can learn all about our proven strategy, the Powerhouse program and even get started today HERE!

MARKETING FUN FACT

Social media moves mountains (of sales)! Over 50% of online shoppers use social media to research products before buying—make sure your social media presence is engaging!