The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth Molly Knuth

Have you ever wished you could just ask an expert, “How the heck do I do this…in simple terms?”
 
That’s exactly what I thought as I was planning out 2024 content for The Found Podcast: Why not give entrepreneurs and small business owners an opportunity to ask real questions in real time and get real answers that matter to them?
 
In this episode format called “Coaching Calls,” a small business owner/entrepreneur is given an opportunity to submit a question they would like me to answer about marketing, business growth, personal development, or anything that’s on their mind!
 
Today’s submission is from one of my former coaching clients and friend, Natalie Berning of Berning Acres, who asked, “Should I add Pinterest to my business marketing strategy?”
 
This is a layered question, but it’s one I think we all of us should ask from time to time as we develop our marketing strategy and assess its return on investment.
Benefits of Incorporating Pinterest in your Small Business’ Marketing Strategy
Now, my friend this is a very layered question, and as I go into with Natalie, it's not as simple as just starting an account and saying “Hey, let’s Pin!” 
 
I highly recommend that anytime you add a platform to your marketing toolkit you make sure 
A: that it is aligned with your ideal audience 
B: that you have the time to dedicate to the learning and the growth it's going to take to get started on the platform 
C: that you develop a long-term and short-term plan for how this new platform will serve your business
D: especially with Pinterest, begin with the end in mind and map out your customer’s acquisition journey
 
That being said, there are lots of reasons a small business could benefit from the addition of Pinterest to their marketing strategy:
Visual Discovery: 
Pinterest is a highly visual platform where users discover ideas, products, and inspiration through images and videos. Small businesses can leverage this visual aspect to showcase their products or services in a visually appealing way, making them more discoverable to potential customers.
High Intent Audience: 
Pinterest users often have high purchase intent, with many actively seeking ideas and inspiration for future purchases. By creating engaging and relevant content, small businesses can connect with users who are actively looking for products or services like theirs, driving traffic and sales.
Longevity of Pins: 
Unlike other social media platforms where content may have a short lifespan, pins on Pinterest can have a long shelf life and continue to drive traffic and engagement over time. This means that small businesses can benefit from ongoing exposure and visibility for their content, even months or years after it's been pinned.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Benefits: 
Pinterest acts as a visual search engine, allowing users to discover content based on keywords and interests. By optimizing pins with relevant keywords and descriptions, small businesses can improve their visibility in Pinterest search results and drive organic traffic to their website.
Referral Traffic: 
Pinterest is a powerful driver of referral traffic, with users frequently clicking through pins to visit external websites. Small businesses can use Pinterest to drive traffic to their website, blog, or online store, increasing brand exposure and potential conversions.
Targeted Advertising Options: 
Pinterest offers robust advertising options, including Promoted Pins and Pinterest Ads, which allow small businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviors. This targeted approach can help small businesses reach their ideal customers and drive meaningful results.
Steps for Starting out on Pinterest
Pinterest isn’t just another social media platform—it's a powerful tool for driving traffic, increasing brand visibility, and connec

When I started thinking about who to have in as a guest expert on the topics of systems and workflows, I knew exactly who my dream interview would be, so I shot my shot and sent an Instagram DM to Holly Haynes….yes. THE Holly Haynes.
 
Holly helps female entrepreneurs create simple, scaleable offers and systems to grow to multi-6 figures without relying on the social algorithm.
 
One of the things I love most about my time with Holly is her authenticity and her willingness to talk about all things business, including:
her history in the corporate world and making the transition to side hustler and ultimately CEO getting connected with your community and using their questions and data to help you build a unique framework and business model that is true to your business strategies for scheduling your day and week her favorite tools for getting your time back as a business owner having her Instagram account taken down when she had over 16,000 followers how to “ditch the social drama” and incorporate marketing methods that don’t rely on an algorithm  
This conversation with Holly is so much fun. You're going to learn incredible amounts of information (as I did!), and I think you're also going to fall in love with Holly along the way.
 
Key Takeaways
“I feel like on paper, it looks like we went from like zero to a hundred really fast, but I always share: it's almost like you have these little nudges along the way, and you like take a step and then you pivot, and then you take a step and you pivot.” “It's all been based on what people are asking, but also, how can we serve based on where people are at.” “I had enough corporate experience where I could just step away for a year. If it like all went downhill, then I could just like go back in the workforce.” “I always say, if you can control your schedule, you control everything, right? It's all about time and where you're spending your time.” “I'm just constantly trying to create this white space because that's where the creativity comes from.” “Consistency trumps talent….so if you could pick the thing that you can be consistent about and then add it into your schedule where it doesn't feel like work, or if it does feel like work, it's for an hour, and then you're like moving on, you're going to see much better results.” “We use social as, I like to call it like a magazine: it's like the sidecar to the main act. So the main act for us is podcasting and email.” “Your home base is usually your email or some sort of nurture sequence or something. Most people get really overwhelmed by setting this up. What I tell them is just pause everything else because this is going to help you so much. When you're on podcast, what do you share? You share this. When you're networking, what do you share? You share this. When you're talking in emails or things like that, this is the thing that's going to do the work for you.” “What if my goal was to help a hundred families change their schedule this year, right? Or a hundred families build their dream business? How would that feel as opposed to: I need 10 more clients, right? It just feels different.” “You can run your business however you want to.” Helpful Links to Items Mentioned in the Episode
Jeni’s Ice Cream Metricool ClickUp Planner ManyChat ChatGPT Video Ask More About Holly
 
Holly helps female entrepreneurs create simple, scaleable offers and systems to grow to multi-6 figures without relying on the social algorithm. 
 
An industry expert and featured Thrive and Entrepreneur.com author with a 20-year business consulting background with Fortune 500 companies, Holly built her now 7- figure business while working full-time, retiring herself and her husband. 
 
Holly now runs her strategic coaching business, the Crush the Rush Planner company, and hosts the top 100 Crush the Rush podcast while raising her twin daughters

Time to get tactical, my friends.
 
I love talking about energy and mindset and confidence and habits as much as the next person, but there are seasons for that and there are seasons to work and put your money where your mouth is.
 
April is about taking action here at MKM.
 
It’s all about setting up the tools, systems, and workflows that will help you run your small business better, and today I’m starting with introducing you to my 10 Favorite Tech Tools that I rely on day-in and day-out in my business.
 
Disclaimer: These aren’t the fanciest, sexiest tools. They aren’t going to automate your processes and take you from A→Z in 24 hours, but they are the tried and true tools I’ve integrated over the course of my seven years in business here at MKM.
 
As I share my favorite tools of 2024, I also share tools that offer similar functions and features that may be better suited for those who are at an earlier stage of business or prefer a different user experience.
 
Let’s dive in with my 10 Favorite Tech Tools for small business owners.
 
Slack
What is it: Slack is a popular cloud-based collaboration tool designed to facilitate communication and teamwork within organizations. It offers a wide range of features, including real-time messaging, file sharing, project management, and integration with other productivity tools. Overall, Slack is widely used by teams and organizations of all sizes to improve communication, collaboration, and productivity in the workplace. How I use it: Communicating with MKM team members. We love the “Channels” feature that allows us categorize our conversations and file sharing by client. No more losing conversations in long email threads. Everything is easy to find and search and in one place. We operate on the free version of the platform, as it had all the capabilities and functions we needed as a super small team. Heads up: Set up rules, expectations, and boundaries to keep everything on-track and above-board. Link to Slack: https://slack.com/ ClickUp
What is it: ClickUp is used by teams and organizations across various industries to increase efficiency, collaboration, and transparency in their work processes. ClickUp is a cloud-based productivity platform designed to help teams and individuals organize and manage their work. It offers a wide range of features and tools to streamline task management, project collaboration, goal tracking, and more. How I use it: Tracking projects, assigning certain team members to projects, assigning and monitoring due dates, time tracking, and project management. There is So. Much. More. you can do with Clickup, and I know I’m merely scratching the surface of its functionality. Heads up: Other apps like Asana and Trello are also helpful for project management. Link to ClickUp: https://clickup.com/ Dubsado
What is it: Dubsado is designed to help small businesses and freelancers streamline their operations, improve client management, and enhance productivity. It provides a comprehensive set of tools to support various aspects of running a business, from client acquisition to project delivery and beyond. How I use it: I use Dubsado for preparing, sending and signing client contracts; sending and receiving client questionnaires; scheduling; automated emails; and I used to use it for invoicing and billing. Heads up: Other CRMs like Honeybook, Hubspot, Pipedrive, and Salesforce are also helpful for Customer Relationship Management. Link to Dubsado (and get 20% off your first month or your first year!): dubsado.com/?c=mkm20 Flodesk
What is it: Flodesk is an email marketing platform designed to help businesses and creators create visually stunning email campaigns easily. It offers a range of features and templates to assist users in designing and sending emails that are visually appealing and engaging. Flodesk is known for its simplicity, ease of use, and visually appealing

Today’s submission is from an Iowa friend who asked, “How can I create more compelling social media content that converts into sales?”
 
This is a layered question, but it’s one I think we all of us should ask from time to time as we develop our marketing strategy and assess its return on investment.
 
Tips for making your social media content stand out for product-based businesses
 
Use multiple images on posts: when viewers see that there are more photos available than they can see from the preview, curiosity takes over and they click through all the images in the post. Each image is logged as one engagement by the social media platforms, and every engagement tells that algorithm that your post is something more people want to see. More clicks = more engagement = more reach. Prioritize candid, real-life images, not just the pretty, curated ones: yes, we live in a world of FaceTune and Photoshop, but what really compels viewers to stop their scroll is something relatable. Think photos that are a little imperfect, backgrounds they recognize from their own community, vignettes that they could picture in their own homes.  Incorporate Video: Using video to share new product arrivals, whether in a post, Reel, or Story, will help your viewers get the full effect. Don’t feel pressured to do trendy dance moves or spend hours editing and clipping your videos. Just prioritize being helpful and informative as you display your newest items in your shop via video. Listen to today's episode for even more tips!  
A little more about our guest today…
Kimberly Kollasch is the founder and owner of 400 RS Home & Design in Whittemore, Iowa. She is passionate about making homes beautiful and cozy, so through her storefront (both a brick-and-mortar shopping experience and an online store) Kimberly offers seasonal decor and giftables. Not only does she offer brand-new items, but she also has a talent for breathing new life into vintage furniture so it looks modern and perfectly at home in 2024.
Learn more about 400 RS Home & Design
To find out more about Kimberly and what her business offers, visit https://400-rs-home-design.myshopify.com/ or give them a follow over on Instagram or Facebook
 
If you want to be a guest on an upcoming coaching call
Click here to submit your question for Molly: https://forms.gle/LfZzFZgWiDwwehZD7

Amanda Hofman of Go To Market Studio is the “go-to” for creating anti-boring custom merch for your business that will turn heads and keep you top of mind for your ideal clients and customers.
 
Amanda is a wife, human mom of 2, dog mom, and co-founder of Go To Market, her second company in her entrepreneurial career. 
 
She and her company create custom-branded merchandise for businesses, authors, podcasters, and more. They’re flipping the branded merchandise industry on its head by challenging the age-old practice of sticking the company’s logo in the middle of whatever product they are handing out, be it tee shirts, hats, pens, lunch boxes, tumblers, etc. 
 
Instead, Amanda and her design team dig into their client’s mission, vision, and branding to create designs that represent their values. As a result, they create swag that clients and customers are willing and excited to rep!
 
The other part of the Go To Market model that is revolutionizing the industry hinges on sustainability and inclusion. All their client’s online merch shops are print-on-demand, meaning companies don’t have to order and store massive quantities of coffee cups, pre-sized tee shirts, and the like. Clients and customers can place their orders online and get the size, shape, color, style that they want. This leads to less waste and more intentional and valued usage of the products.
 
Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode
“You gotta walk through the suck to get through to the other side.” “We expect things to be custom and meaningful and interesting and targeted.” “We’re focusing on teaching companies…how to make items that really reflect their values. So we’re not printing their logo front and center, we’re printing something that’s meaningful to the business. We’re trying to harness the thing that makes a business, an author, a podcaster special.” “The other part we’re doing is the sustainability piece where everything prints on-demand…everything prints as it’s ordered, so that people get what they want in the size, shape, color, style that they want it.” “It’s really about connection…People aren’t connected to your logo, they’re connected to ideas. They’re connected to the way that you make them feel.” “So many business owners want branded merch because they love their brand.” “There are risks that we’re willing to take and not.” “That I feel like we just have to acknowledge it…Entrepreneurship, a variable income is very challenging if you’re raising a family. A variable income is challenging, period. And then if you’re raising a family, like, I can’t imagine that level of stress.” “I’m not a failure. I tried something, and it didn’t work out.” “When a company is giving a gift where there isn’t choice, even if it’s thoughtful, even if it’s beautiful to you, you’re still giving a burden to people at some level.” Go to Market with Amanda
Check out all that Amanda and Go To Market Studio has to offer on their website or connect with her over on LinkedIn for all the updates in her upcoming adventures.
Helpful Links Mentioned in the Episode
Website: https://gotomarket.studio/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/gotomarketstudio/
Amanda LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandagoldfinehofman/
Failure Pod Episode: https://mollyknuthmedia.com/2023/09/05/perspectives-from-a-failing-business-owner/
Break an Egg group: https://break-an-egg.ck.page/products/break-an-egg
Work Clean Book: https://a.co/d/gvJ03FP

Risk is inherent in life.
 
Every damn day.
 
Whether you decide to stay the same or make a change.
 
Like following the speed limit, or going 5 over…or tinting your driver’s windows and getting pulled over by the same state trooper twice now.
 
Like staying at the same 5 pound weights you’ve been using for 8 weeks, or going up to 8 pounders for this next strength session.
 
Like swiping right or swiping left.
 
Staying at your job with a steady paycheck or going all-in on your business.
 
Each choice above comes with a risk whether you decide to “play it safe” or “take a chance.”
 
The risk of following the speed limit may be arriving late to your meeting, while going 5 over could get you a ticket.
 
The risk of using 5 pounders is not seeing the muscle tone as quickly as you’d like, but going up to 8s means you might be sore tomorrow.
 
Swiping right might mean…actually I don’t know the difference between swiping right or swiping left, but you get the picture.
 
There isn’t necessarily a “right” or a “wrong” choice in any of the scenarios above, but one presents a bigger perceived risk than the other.
 
Taking risk is inherent in life. 
 
We can choose to stay the path and follow the course we started down, or we can change along the way. 
 
Change is a risk. 
 
It’s uncomfortable, and it’s meant to be. 
 
Because part of taking risk is knowing and exploring and pushing what our upper limits are and finding ourselves at the edges of what is possible.
Key Takeaways from the Podcast:
“Risk is inherent.”  “March is the season of spring, a sense of renewal, a sense of rebirth, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that anytime in my life when I’ve considered taking a risk or making a change...a lot of it does connect with this season of spring, this month of March.” “I really was just testing my upper limits, seeing what is possible...I never would have known what my limits were had I not tried this other path.” “Over time by increasing resistance, I increased my threshold of risk, I increased my thermostat of taking chances, and i was proving to myself...what I was capable of.” “And it’s through some of those “small risks” that we take, that we really do prove to ourselves who we are.” “Part of taking risk is knowing and exploring and pushing what our upper limits are.” Helpful Links:
Sweat Inspire Sisterhood: Virtual + NEW in-person women’s fitness and nutrition community The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks Get in the MKM Book Club
In March, MKM is hosting our third month of the MKM Book Club for entrepreneurs and small business owners who desire community and personal/professional development each month. Our first selection is The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks.
 
In The Big Leap, New York Times bestselling author Gay Hendricks reveals a simple yet comprehensive program for overcoming our one barrier to happiness and fulfillment, providing a clear path for achieving our true potential and attaining not only financial success but also success in love and life.
 
To join the MKM Book Club visit mkm.myflodesk.com/marchmkmbookclub