"Is it going to kill Google?" "Do I even need a website?" "What does this mean for my business?"

So we figured it was about darn time we talk about it ourselves from the angle we do best - websites. 

Yes, AI is changing how search works. Heck, AI is changing how AI works. But for most businesses, the impact is more "interesting shift" than "five-alarm fire." Websites aren't obsolete - AI Overviews pull FROM websites. They don't replace them.

In this episode we break down what's actually changing, who needs to pay attention, and what a well-built website is already doing right without you lifting a finger. Plus we get into how to tell if AI is already pulling from your content - and what to do if you want it to do it more.

Spoiler alert! For once, amazingly, the game of getting found online didn't actually change. The scoreboard just looks a little different now.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com/blog/ai-search-what-it-means-for-your-website/

Tutorial: How to use Google Analytics & Search Console to tell if your website is being shown in AI search →

How people find you, whether they trust you, and if they even visit your website - all of it changed. Again. And if you’re not paying attention, you could be losing customers without even knowing why.

The internet in 2026 isn’t the internet we built websites for five, ten, or fifteen years ago. Traffic is down. Tracking is harder. And a huge chunk of your “visitors” aren’t even human.

We wade through these mazes daily while building websites and like to share - first, because we enjoy geeking out, and second, so you don’t have to go in blind.

The short version: 

Bots are everywhere.
AI ate a big chunk of your traffic.
And your Google Business listing is probably more important than your social media now.

Fun times.

We also break down what’s happening with cookies, privacy laws, and why your PHP version matters way more than you think.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: mayecreate.com/blog/state-of-the-internet-2026/

You know the drill. You delete five, ten more appear. You silently cuss technology and consider just shutting down your contact form entirely and making people send carrier pigeons instead. 

You, my friend, are NOT alone. AND you don't have to live like this.

In this week’s episode our resident bot bouncer Rebecca joined me to share how she protects over 300 websites from spam armies. Everything from the basics you can set up in 10 minutes to advanced bot warfare (yes, that's a real thing and yes, it's as satisfying as it sounds).

Rebecca explains:

• How to shut down comment spam (spoiler: just turn them off)
• The two essential tools that stop form spam before it hits your inbox automatically
• How reCAPTCHA actually works (it's not just about clicking a box)
• When to bring out the big guns: manual logic tests, IP blocking, and CDNs
• Why Cloudflare protects websites using lava lamps (we're not making this up)

If you don’t have spam YET and haven’t done anything to your knowledge to block it don't wait until your inbox is a disaster zone. Most of these fixes take minutes to implement and will save you hours of sorting through garbage in the future.

Prefer to read? We turned the whole episode into a blog post for you to reference whenever you need it. Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/tricks-to-fix-and-stop-website-spam/

In this episode, we cover:

• How to decide if it's actually worth bringing up (or if you just need a Coke and a walk)
• The 9 questions to ask yourself before approaching your boss
• How to approach different types of bosses strategically
• What to say (and what NOT to say) to look entrepreneurial instead of difficult
• When to just quit instead—because sometimes that IS the answer

Fair warning: This is a long one. But if you're thinking "I can't do another day of THIS"—it might be exactly what you need. Want more? Check out the full blog post with all the details at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-to-tell-your-boss-that-part-of-your-job-sucks/

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/

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/

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/

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

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/

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

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 ).

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.

This crash course episode on bot-busting includes:

• 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/

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.

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]

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]

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]

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/

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]

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

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

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]

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]

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]

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

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/ 

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/ 

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/

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]

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.

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/

(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/

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

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

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/ 

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/

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/

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.

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.

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

And to get them to stop watching so much TV this summer…I switched our Netfilx account to Spanish ONLY.

OK, so I’m a bit unconventional. But I think we’re all feeling the push and pull of digital wellness. I feel like we’re all grappling with the delicate dance between the tug of technology and the importance of maintaining our digital well-being.  

So this week, I’m excited to invite back Teah Hopper, a Social Media Expert who's on a mission to help us find that perfect balance. 

Inspired by her own journey during maternity leave, she's become a digital wellness advocate, offering invaluable insights into managing technology use for business while preserving our sanity. 

In this episode, Teah and I dive deep into the realm of digital wellness. We explore:

• the impact of social media on our lives, 
• share tips for maintaining a healthy relationship with our phones, and 
• discuss strategies for managing social media addiction. 
• tackle the challenges of balancing screen time for our children
• offer practical advice for decluttering our digital lives

Let’s open this discussion about the importance of digital health, setting boundaries, and creating a healthy online-offline balance. Grab your headphones and get ready to discover the secrets to digital wellness and social media management with Teah Hopper!

Read the shownotes and full transcription for this episode at:https://mayecreate.com/blog/digital-wellness-balance-mindful-tech-usage-with-guest-teah-hopper/

I know from experience she is super, mega organized and smart. And as it turns out she works with virtual assistants on the regular. Sarah offered to share how to streamline the hiring, onboarding and management process for a Virtual Assistant.

And I thought, “Who wouldn’t want to hear that!?!”

Hear Sarah’s tips on:

• Reliable hiring sources, how she structures pay and lessons learned along the way.
• Tasks her VA’s commonly handle plus how she uses her virtual assistant as a task "closer" and integral part of her workflow.
• Streamlining communication and how she uses a project management onboard her employees and keep it all straight.

Get the full transcript and epsidode summary on our website:
https://mayecreate.com/blog/advice-on-hiring-a-virtual-assistant-with-guest-sarah-luebbert/

P.S. If you’re hiring you might also like our Two Weird Yet Must Ask Interview Questions Episode!

Like, do you feel like you’re writing to friends and fans or like your messages are an intrusion?

I’d like to say I’m always a glass-half-full girl but let's be real, this whole marketing thing can feel like a rollercoaster of doubts and challenges.

And when my mindset starts falling it seeps into everything I do.

See, there’s an intricate connection between mindset and marketing magic. Every design, social post or email is colored by mindset and it’s not easy to be “on” all the time.

So how do I keep my glass full and keep from excessively apologizing to people about bothering them? 

1. I love my purpose
2. Do my homework
3. I consider you, my audience, a friend
4. Show up as a problem solver
5. Trash the negative tapes
6. And consider communication an expectation

And I’m breaking down each of those in this week’s episode - join me for a mental leg up!

Get the episode highlights and full transcript at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-mindset-in-marketing/

Ever felt like you're spinning your wheels, trying to balance work, life, and the unexpected challenges that pop up? 

Yeah, been there too. 

(And a big thank you to the lovely consultants, coaches and trainers who have helped me out of those situations!)

Kimber shares some golden nuggets on how a business coach can be the secret sauce to make everything click.

Join Kimber and I as we break it all down!

Get the full transcript and eposide summary on our website:
https://mayecreate.com/blog/business-coaching-what-is-it-and-why-you-need-it-with-guest-kimber-zatkovich/

MayeCreate made the shift to an experimental four day work week this summer. 

Spoiler alert - we love it! 

A four day work week is fantastic, but it's not without its challenges. 

We all feel a renewed sense of energy and creativity, which is good because we have to enhance efficiency in a whole new way now. Evaluating even our oldest processes because we don’t have the bandwidth to do them the same way anymore. 

We have been pushed outside of our comfort zone during this transition in ways we needed to be pushed a long time ago. Now we have the motivation to get uncomfortable to get comfortable and make this transition work!

In this episode you can hear alllll about it and maybe learn a thing or two along the way .

Ok back to work I go!

P.S. If you’re wondering why we did this little experiment we also documented our reasoning for the decision in another blog/podcast.

Read the fully formatted blog post to accompany this episode at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/working-smarter-not-longer-an-update-on-our-4-day-work-week-experiment/

Knowing your own worth is a game-changer in business and marketing. It allows you to:

• Confidently charge what you deserve for your services
• Discuss money without flinching
• Hold firm when people question your competitive advantages
• Take risks that will help you rise to your full potential

And that’s what this episode is all about.

Join Jon Micheal Perry and I as we get candid about the challenges, the triumphs, and how understanding your worth can be the key to unlocking your full potential.

Get the episode outline and full transcript on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/knowing-your-own-worth-with-guest-jon-michael-perry/

That's right! This summer my family and I went on an epic one-month work/travel journey through Costa Rica.

I wanted to share all the nitty-gritty details, funny stories, and life-changing insights I gained during my time in this tropical (and sometimes very hot) paradise. 

From work challenges to embracing the Pura Vida way of life, we had quite an adventure.

I can’t wait to share it with you!

Get the full blog post and see some fun photos too on our website: 
https://mayecreate.com/blog/embracing-pura-vida-lessons-from-my-costa-rica-work-and-travel-holiday/

Also here's that link to my family's podcast documenting our journey:
https://pitts-family-travels.castos.com/

In this guerilla marketing brainstorming session Jay and I considered using everything from sidewalk chalk, to powerwashing, even BAD REVIEWS turned upside down to stand out in a crowded industry. The ideas were zooming, I’m sure you’ll take away a few!

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

• Guerrilla marketing techniques brainstorm sess
• The importance of authenticity and creativity in standing out in marketing.
• Leveraging existing resources for marketing opportunities.
• The power of timing when capturing customer reviews.

Come be a fly on the wall of two creatives doing what they do…being creative

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website:|
https://mayecreate.com/blog/guerrilla-marketing-tactics-for-small-business-owners-with-guest-jay-smith/

I wanted to drop you a quick note about our latest podcast episode featuring none other than James Goalder from Bloomerang. 

Oh yeah, you heard me right. I got an actual, real, live, human guest from Bloomerang!

And he’s not just a human, he’s a nonprofit loving geek, like me!

Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect from my interview with James:

• Data Credibility Matters: Learn why data credibility is the secret sauce to winning your donors' trust and support.
  
  
• Transparency Tips and Tricks: We share practical strategies to enhance nonprofit transparency, including clear communication, credible statistics, and more.
  
  
• Practical Ideas for Messaging and Fundraising: Discover how to leverage transparency in your messaging and fundraising, especially for year-end giving campaigns.
  
  
• Personalized Donor Engagement: Explore why personalized touches can make a world of difference.
  
  
• Donor Management Systems Unraveled: James simplifies the world of donor management systems, making it easier for you to choose the right fit for your organization.

Thank you for your dedication to making the world a better place through your nonprofit work. James and I can't wait to help you shine even brighter!

Get the full transcript and the episode summary on our website:

https://mayecreate.com/blog/practical-tips-for-nonprofit-transparency-with-bloomerangs-james-goalder/

How do you engage younger donors?

How do you get donors involved and raise funds on your behalf?

If you find yourself scratching your head (or maybe banging it against a wall) over those quarreling quandaries, I want to introduce you to Mike Myers.

Mike mulled those questions over too and found just the right tune to keep the music playing for the long haul for his nonprofit, Band of Angels.

In this podcast, he’ll:

• Dive into how they've rocked and rolled for 13 years, even through the wild ride of COVID-19. 
• How they've turned fundraising on its head and made it fun and engaging.
• Offer up tricks for getting the younger crowd involved.
• Share the secret success of his long term donor engagement strategy through emails.

Buckle up for a lively chat about peer-to-peer fundraising, the importance of treating everyone like a rockstar, and how to speak to donors in a way that hits all the right notes. 

Tune in for a dose of inspiration from this success story of Band of Angels!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website:

https://mayecreate.com/blog/peer-to-peer-marketing-brings-instruments-joy-celebrating-band-of-angels/

On a personal note...a crazy fun fact that you may not know about me…I’m not a big social media fan.

And when I say, “not a fan,” I really mean I like it about as much as that girl who pulled my pigtails all 7th grade.

BUT

And that’s a bit BUTTTT.  I also know it’s an important tool to yield in my business growth tool box. Luckily, I have a secret weapon to keep me from all out social media revolt.

Her name is Teah Hopper. 

Somehow, despite being a social media expert, SHE GETS IT. And regularly talks me off the ledge helping me find a modocrom of joy in my social media instead of just falling into a pit of distraction.

Teah has a knack for discovering that sweet spot—the 90%—where your social media efforts yield maximum joy and growth for your business. In this episode, Teah and I discuss:

• Uncovering your 90% in social media—what works best for you
• Crafting a strategy and plan to define your brand's identity
• The magic of consistency in marketing and how it fuels your success
• Choosing the right social media platform and harnessing its power effectively
• Leveraging AI and ChatGPT to enhance your social media content
• Selling to different demographics and understanding the nuances of platforms like Instagram
• Staying digitally well by using social media purposefully

Let’s squish that mean pigtail pulling bully and light up some joy in our social media to harness its full potential with Teah Hopper!

Get the full transcript and episode summary on our website:
https://mayecreate.com/blog/finding-more-joy-in-your-social-media-aka-not-hate-it-with-guest-teah-hopper/

One of my favorite examples is my brother and his fence; he looked at so many options to build a fence around his yard that he got overwhelmed and he ended up with no fence at all!

I pride myself on being a decision maker but I haven't always had the guts to pull the plug when I needed to either.

When I first started my business, my #1 goal was to everyone happy, so when I had to make decisions that I thought might make people mad I'd procrastinate BIG TIME and end up with an even bigger mess on my hands.

Over time, I realized that being a good leader meant making those decisions confidently with everyone's best interests at heart.

So in this episode, I'll share:

• Self-talk techniques and strategies that help me navigate decision-making without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. ️
• My mom's #1 decision making hack.
• Why taking action is often the best action to take.

Tune in, and let's conquer paralysis by analysis together so you can take those baby steps and make decisions more effectively in your own life and business! ️

Get the full transcript and more: https://mayecreate.com/blog/paralysis-by-analysis/

WTF

Ok no really, you know what SEO is, right? It stands for search engine optimization. Which really means showing up on Google when people search for you.

And it’s a fickle, illusive, mythical creature that everyone wants to tame but have no idea where to find in the dark forest.

Until you meet the amazing Rachel Lindteigen, founder of etched marketing and etched Marketing Academy. (Rachel teaches small business owners how to get more organic traffic to their websites and blogs by working with Google.)

She just waves her magic smart lady wand and brings it all into perspective for us muggles.

In this episode Rachel shares her:

• Expert tips on how to select the right keywords, 
• Common SEO mistakes to avoid, 
• Tools to find your keywords, and… 
• Her process for creating SEO-worthy content.

Rachel brings SEO down to earth for us in this episode plus we had so much fun geeking out over SEO, you'd think we were swapping beach vacation stories. (Ya we’re dorks but hey the world needs peoples like us too!) Give it a listen.

P.S. A big part of SEO is having a great website (which is my specialty, BTW ). Hit me up if you need one - I’ll get you started off on the right foot to SEO magic!

Episode transcript and more on our website:

https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-seo-can-build-your-business-with-guest-rachel-lindteigen/

Before you take even one more step in that direction we need to talk. 

We need to talk about what to know AND do before you start to set yourself up for success. I’m not exaggerating when I say this information could save you thousands of dollars and even more heartache.

Soo..let’s have this chat and get you off on the right foot for your ecommerce adventure!

Get the lovely formatted blog post to accompany this episode on our website: 

https://mayecreate.com/blog/before-you-set-up-your-ecommerce-site-do-this/

My first thought was, no…but I really wish it did…then a light bulb went off because there are actually tons of ways to segment your emails that don't take you forever. 

And that feels pretty magical.

The most magical solutions involve segmenting on intake. Of course, I have a few tricks to retrofit as well.

In this episode I’ll dig into:

• What email segmentation is
• Benefits of segmenting your lists
• Common segmenting techniques
• Tricks for segmenting on intake (this is magic!)
• Ways to retrofit and segment your existing list

I know, wowzers , that's a lot of awesome in one podcast. And, because I love ALL learning styles, if you need to READ all this awesome, I’ve got you covered with a written blog post as well! 

So grab a pen and paper and let's supercharge your email marketing with some segmentation magic!

Get a lovely formatted blog post to accompany this episode on our website:

https://mayecreate.com/blog/email-segmentation-hacks/

What if there was a way you could jump start the getting to know you process? 

A way to draw people in and introduce ourselves that didn’t include a string of 20 onboarding emails and something people might really enjoy experiencing?

****Drum roll please!!****

TURNS OUT THERE IS!!!!! 

And Mariana Henniger, a 15 year veteran documentary filmmaker turned brand marketing video maestro is going to tell us all about it in this week’s podcast episode. 

She’s perfecting this thing she calls a ‘Brand Video’. And better yet, she helps people build them! 

You use a brand video to tell your story in a nutshell, and bring people back to business in an artistic and entertaining way. Explaining why they should work with you, what makes you valuable and what makes you, well…you!

I have brand video envy pretty bad right now. While writing ALLLLLLLLL those emails I really wished I had one. Learn why as Mariana tells us all about what it takes to make a good one and put it in action!

This week’s podcast episode is all about BRANDING.

You know, the magical spell that makes businesses stand out from the crowd? The one that creates the vibe, and emotional connection to keep your customers coming back for more?

Now, while the MayeCreate team certainly brings brands to life online, we don’t usually have a hand in creating them from scratch…sooooo….

I invited a special guest and branding pro Patrick Sesko to give us the branding low down. He's been rockin' the graphic design and brand strategy game since 2005.

In this podcast Patrick explains:

• How to map your brand personality and make it shine! ✨
• The Brand Stack Framework, the building blocks for your visual brand! 
• How colors can totally shape how people feel about your brand (and their meanings)!
• Tips to help you find the PERFECT font that fits your brand like a glove!

With Patrick’s help we’ll dive into the wild world of branding together! 

So the first big step (and really never ending part) of email marketing is growing your list. But who has time to test out everything and see what sticks?

You want tricks that work!

And that's why in this episode we're digging into just how to grow your email list with a few really simple tricks you could put into play right away. Things that don't take a lot of extra time, but really will result in people signing up for your email list.

Get the blog post to accompany this epside on our website:
https://mayecreate.com/blog/grow-your-email-list-6-tricks-that-work

One of my biggest frustrations with Canva is: I can’t freakin’ find anything! 

So when I saw Brenda Cadman, one of 44 certified Canva experts, was creating a course on Canva organization, I had to hear her take.

Breaking Stereotypes and Restoring Dignity One Period Kit at a Time

I sent out an email a few months ago, you may have gotten it, asking if you had a story to tell.

And I got this exact response:

“A 50 year old guy starts a nonprofit tackling period poverty, and in four years operates in three states and handed out almost 2 million products. Could there be something there? Hope to talk to you soon.”

That was the email. 

And I thought, oh yeah, I gotta hear this story.

Meet Geoff Davis.

This former Airforce dad of five girls is creating change about how we view and talk about menstrual cycles.

Hear how Geoff took the idea of period kits, and fearlessly ran it like a business, overcoming stereotypes to provide dignity to people in different states, communities and walks of life. 

And the crazy thing is, I'm giving him this credit (because he deserves it), and if he’s reading this he’s shaking his head.

Because he says, 

“That's not what it's all about. It's about people helping other people.

 And that's it. The end. 

Tell these people that the tampon fairy dropped off these kits for all I care as long as people get the products that they need to be healthy and proud of their own bodies.”

OR

If you need a positive perspective to turn your day around…

You need to meet Lisa Kentner, a fellow Marketing with Purpose listener with a story to tell. (Like the ‘I wrote a book’ kinda story.)

I came away from this podcast interview lit up like a Christmas tree. 

Who doesn’t like that kind of energy?

Lisa lives by the law of attraction. Turns out I do too even though I hadn’t even heard of it.

In this episode she’ll explain to us:

• What the law of attraction is and how it shaped her life.
  
  
• Examples of using the law of attraction to grow your business or nonprofit.
  
  
• One small step you could take right now to put the law of attraction into motion.

Come hang out with Lisa, myself and her Million Little Miracles.

P.S. Seriously, if you don’t like being happy don’t listen to this episode…I wouldn't want to screw up your bad mood .

Most new organizations (or even existing ones) think it’s a logo. Maybe some stationary. A website perhaps?

But as it turns out those are just the trappings of a brand. The interpretation a graphic design puts on your brand. (Who knew, right?)

Your real brand is the personality of your business. And that’s something that Barbara Carneiro is excellent at helping people define. 

I took over a PAGE of notes during our conversation because I couldn’t wait to put her advice into action.

She looks at branding through a whole different lens. 

Could be because she’s lived all over the world. Or maybe because she owned a dance academy, taught cooking classes, sold wedding dresses and even taught Portuguese before making her home in marketing 22 years ago. 

In this episode she’s going to walk us through her branding framework including:

• Her defining question, “Who Do You Serve Well Today?” and how its answer can shape the first steps you’ll take towards developing your brand.
• The four main generations of buyers today, the characteristics and values that define them and what motivates the different generations to take action.)
• Aaaand, her four must answer brand building questions (if you’re developing your brand or heck even just starting any type of promotional campaign these answers will fill your sails).

So put your branding hat on and grab a notepad…you’re gonna want it! 

I’m excited to introduce you to Barbara!

In the past 18 years I’ve hired some amazing humans and some who shall not be named…ever…again…

When you're meeting a stranger for the first time, it's hard to gauge their true work ethic and culture. 

So, I’ve had to dream up a few tried and true weird interview questions to pull back the curtain and get a glimpse of the real person behind the interview facade. 

What are these weird interview questions, you ask? 

Well, I won't spoil the surprise, but let's just say they involve a little surprise and a lot of honesty and a bit of a back story to translate the answers.

For a fully-formatted blog ot accompany this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/two-weird-interview-questions-why-to-ask-em/

No really, it’s just me. 

Up until this podcast with Andrea, ChatGPT was just a thing that I kept hearing people talk about. I heard it as cool but…I had no idea how to use it.

I went to the website. It was ugly. I thought, “I must be in the wrong place.” So I left.

Let me just call myself out and say – that was stupid.

Because after talking with Andrea and getting a bit of advice on how the system actually works it turns out that ChatGPT may usurp GTMetics as my new digital boyfriend.

It’s seriously freakin’ cool.

And I have Andrea Thomas to thank for introducing me to this awesomesauce ❤️❤️❤️. 

Andrea is a tech expert who has been working in the digital world for 15 years. She’s built everything from websites to apps and has spent months interacting with chat GPT and figuring out how to talk to it to get the desired results.

Andrea is going to explain how entrepreneurs can use ChatGPT to save time in their business and marketing including tips on how to use it for:

• Generating blog ideas 
• creating outlines
• Finding keywords
• Crafting SEO-rich titles

AND!!!! She made a downloadable PDF workbook for you, so you’ll have a shortcut and have to spend months dating this system before you get to first base.

Give it a listen, you won’t regret it

P.S. Yes. I did use ChatGPT to help me write the rough draft of this intro…I’m in love

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/using-chatgpt-for-blog-ideas-outlines-keywords-and-seo-with-guest-andrea-thomas/

We’re test running it until October. 

As I’ve shared this decision with friends and clients I’ve had a pretty wide range of responses.

Some people think it’s totally righteous (I’m firmly in that category).

Other’s seriously doubt it can possibly work.

One person told me I sounded like I was heading into retirement (mid-life crisis yes, retirement no. I wish!)

So in this week’s episode I’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at our journey to a four-day workweek:

• The motivation behind the change: What started because of a play-dough jealousy issue grew into a cultural shift for our company.
• Stepping out of the traditional mold: Our pattern of questioning our expectations of ourselves and our roles as employees and professionals.
• Overcoming challenges: How we blew up and realized that maybe the latest curveball compliments of the universe was actually an amazing opportunity.

Step behind the curtain with me!

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/our-journey-to-a-four-day-work-week/

I had a lot of questions about these fabulous folks. Like…

• What can they do? 
• How many hours of work do I need to offer to hire one? 
• Can they REALLY take on some of my least favorite tasks so I can focus on what I do best?
• How much will it cost?

And then I found Emily Reagan, the founder of the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. With a business name like that I KNEW she was going to be nothing short of awesome.

In this episode, Emily shares her expertise on what tasks a virtual assistant can do, how to communicate with them, and even tips on interviewing and finding the right fit. 

So if you’re looking for a part time hire, and a VA is on the table, join me to learn from this awesome unicorn.

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/virtual-assistants-a-unicorn-solution-for-marketing-tasks-with-guest-emily-reagan/

Alexa is part of the kitchen help at the Pitts household. She sets timers, finds recipes, acts as a non biased officiant of arguments and even solves math problems. (I keep forgetting how many tbsp are in a cup.)

It got me thinking…

What do I need to know about using AI in my business to better serve our clients and work smarter not harder?

So I asked Paul. 

He's an entrepreneur with years of experience building successful businesses in real estate, photography, and online ventures. He's also an early adopter of AI technology and part of a group exploring how it can be used in business to save time and boost efficiency.

Now, I realize it's not all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to AI. 

I also posed some ethical questions, like who owns the content generated by AI, and Paul offered some insightful answers for us to mull over as AI becomes more and more integrated into our lives and businesses.

So, if you want to learn more about how AI can help your business, or just want to have some fun with the topic, tune in to our conversation! Trust me, it's a good one.

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/unlocking-the-power-of-ai-in-business-with-guest-paul-pruitt/

If I had a quarter for everytime I heard the word overwhelm from small businesses and nonprofits I’d be rich...

So friend, if you’re in that spot you are in good company. Past Monica has totally been known to hide under her desk from the overwhelm monster. Working on closing that chapter again right stinking now to be honest.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this chapter of business ownership and motherhood in my life it’s that if I’m feeling overwhelmed, it's time to make a change.

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/practical-decision-making-tips-to-reduce-overwhelm/

With all the marketing Talking Heads out there telling you that a podcast is the “new blog” I'm sure you're asking yourself, “Should I have a podcast?”

(Right alongside should I do Tiktok, start a YouTube channel or just go old school and start that cotton pickin’ blog).

Well, in this article/podcast episode my goal is to help make that decision -  is podcasting the right marketing tool for you? 

Because let's face it you can't do them all. You need to do the one that fits inside your strengths zone, effectively tells your story and connects with your audience.

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, https://mayecreate.com/blog/is-starting-a-nonprofit-podcast-right-for-your-organization/

So, let's get this logo planning party started! In this blog post/podcast combo check out these 6 pro tips for making a logo before launching your project.

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/tips-for-making-a-logo-6-key-logo-planning-decisions/

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/you-are-right-where-you-need-to-be/

I'm sharing some of my best logo secrets that will help you get an awesome logo for your organization without breaking the bank. 

There's an option for those who want to be more hands-on, and an option for those of you who are not a designer or are working with a whole committee of people. 

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/the-two-best-most-affordable-logo-design-options-to-create-your-companys-logo/

Let’s talk about ADA and websites…yes, it’s a thing. Discover the essentials of ADA compliance for websites in our comprehensive blog/podcast combo.

Accessibility features can help anyone for any reason.

Here's the deal. The number of people with disabilities is not small. You may think you’re just revamping your website for a few people who can't see or can't hear. Friends, around 15% of the world's population (roughly 1 billion people) are disabled.

That is the world's largest minority, when you take the time to make your site ADA Compliant you're on the path to creating a welcoming considerate site for more than just people with disabilities though - you are making a website that's easier for EVERYONE to use. You included. Because we all end up in spots when we're not capable of using a website like we usually would. 

In this episode I'll sort through:

• What ADA Compliance means
• Who needs to worry about it
• 13 Tips to Make your Website More ADA Compliant

Full episode here: https://mayecreate.com/blog/ada-compliance-for-websites-a-quick-guide-to-accessibilityto-accessibility/

Within each of these categories, I’ll also give you specific questions to ask, so you know exactly what web lingo to use, and you can understand what you might be getting from this relationship. 

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/web-design-company-interview-guide/

Timestamps

Introducing Jamie Cote and Personalized Computers - 0:32
What is the CPU and what does it do? - 4:30
Which processor should you pick? - 8:42
What is RAM? - 14:38
How to reduce the amount of memory you are using - 15:42
What size of RAM do you need? - 19:01
What else can affect how your computer runs? - 22:06
What to look for in storage - 25:15
What is the SSD? - 26:11
What size of SSD do you need? - 31:18
What is the GPU? - 34:07
Do you need a desktop or a laptop? - 37:49
Should you get Windows 10 or Windows 11? - 43:17
How to reach Jamie and Personalized Computers - 44:39

For a full transcription, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/picking-the-right-computer-for-your-marketing-with-guest-jamie-cote/

We discuss how to get the best marketing photos using just the phone you already have in your pocket. Learn how to spot a good shot, why more photos are always better than less and what you can do with those photos to make your designer’s life a little bit easier. 

Timestamps

Introduction of Marc Muehlberger - 1:18
Pros and Cons of using your iPhone for marketing photos - 3:50
Finding the best light for your photos - 7:32
Paying attention to what is around you in photos - 10:48
Editing photos on your phone - 13:57
Using the right lens setting - 16:43
Tips for those in front of the camera - 19:57
Posing for photos - 22:21
Taking more photos than you think you need - 26:54
Image format suggestions - 34:12
Naming your photos - 39:29
Practicing really does make perfect - 42:49
Where to find Marc Muehlberger - 45:31
Creating an FAQ video - 47:42

Check out the full transcript for this episode on our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/getting-great-marketing-photos-using-your-phone/

In this episode, Monica is joined by Travis Schumacher, Google Partner (and Monica’s brother) to talk about all things Google Workspace. This paid version of Google provides your company or organization with powerful tools to keep your business running efficiently, so you can focus less on how to send a document back and forth and more on the important stuff. 

Timestamps 

Introducing Travis, Tranquility Internet and Google Workspace - 1:17

What is Google Workspace? What can you do with it? - 3:19

What is the difference between free Gmail and Google Workspace? - 6:30

Is there a discount for nonprofits to use Google Workspace? - 12:13

How do you transfer your existing things to Google Workspace? - 15:43

Can you migrate information to Google Workspace, or should you hire someone? - 21:51

How do you find someone to help with Google Workspace? - 24:29

What is the role of a Google Partner? - 25:54

How much does hiring a Google Partner cost? - 28:38

What else should you know about Google Workspace? - 32:10

How do you contact Travis? - 34:16

For a full transcript, visit: https://mayecreate.com/blog/all-about-google-workspace-with-guest-travis-schumacher/

☠️ ➡️ →

I am going to tell you guys what has happened to me in the past when I've let my website go for too long without refreshing it. But first, I want to get an honest take from a couple of young web users, Ellis and Aveleen, my daughters who are 12 and 8, about how they feel about websites.

For a fully-formatted article version of this post, visit: https://mayecreate.com/blog/website-refresh-the-fall-out-of-keeping-that-dinosaur-of-a-website/

I’m here to say we heard you! I even dedicated an entire learning sequence about writing for your website in our upcoming Better Than DIY Website program. 

So, thank you so much for your feedback, everyone. It really does help me help you on your journey to getting an awesome website that's going to grow your business. 

With that in mind, let's figure out this writing thing.

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-writing-for-your-website/

Some web providers put additional costs in a package and just charge you a monthly lump sum. It’s hard to know what is all covered by your monthly payment, it just falls under the category of “WEBSITE”. You might think it's for them to update your site. And it might be! But it also probably includes things like the cost of your domain name, hosting, or other hidden costs. 

To view a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit: https://mayecreate.com/blog/the-hidden-and-recurring-costs-of-building-a-website

Let me be your guide today as we go through my tips and tricks to help you get through the design process as quickly as possible. I want you to get through this process without belly-flopping in the middle.

For a fully-formatted blog post of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/time-saving-tips-for-a-website-redo

If you're doing a complete overhaul on your website, then you're asking yourself a lot of questions. What type of website should I even have? Should it be on Wix? On WordPress? Somewhere else? Where should I build this thing?

My goal is to help you get a big picture view of the differences between these systems and their features. Hopefully, this overview will jumpstart your decision making process, so you can pick the right type of site that will ultimately help you grow.

For a fully-formatted blog post of this episode, visit: https://mayecreate.com/blog/wix-weebly-squarespace-wordpress-whats-the-difference

• Marketing with Purpose is marketing with a heart of service.

• It's about making educated decisions.

• It's about connection with people with like missions and values.

• And helping our audience solve their problems. 

My goal is to create a community of marketers with a heart of service.

My hope is that by changing the title I can attract even more people with a service driven heart and help guide them to marketing solutions too.

Read more on our site: https://mayecreate.com/blog/rebranding-nonprofit-marketing-with-purpose-announcement

It controls how it looks, functions and limits (or expands) your ability as a web administrator to expand and build your site. In this post, we'll cover Themes VS Templates, What Themes Do, Free vs. Paid Themes, and The Evolution of the MayeCreate Theme.

We'll also provide you with your very own Theme Selection Checklist.

For a fully-formatted article version of this content, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/picking-the-right-wordpress-theme/

Your website should be a bridge between an Internet user and your business. It's the first face of your business they see. If your website’s not good, it's a roadblock to growing your business.

If you believe these myths, you’re building roadblocks, not bridges.

For a fully-formetted article version of this episode, visit our website at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/7-website-myths-that-are-total-crap/

How to take donations online is a challenge we solve for clients every day so it’s high time I share that knowledge with you! I will be your guide today and go through ways to take donations on your website.

• Using a form.
• Using a simple button connecting to PayPal, Stripe or Square.
• Using a widget.

To view this content as a video or a full-formatted article, visit our website at https://mayecreate.com/blog/ways-to-take-donations-on-your-website

The first step to building an awesome website is creating an awesome plan.

The first step to planning your website isn’t creating a pinterest board of million dollar kitchens to inspire your peanut butter and jelly budget project. 

You need to make some foundational decisions first. Decisions that will ultimately make it easier to plan and build your new site to meet your needs AND stay in your budget.

As an added bonus the answers to these questions will allow you evaluate potential web designers and enter conversations about your site with confidence (even if that designer ends up being yourself).

Five decisions to make before building your new website:

1. What is going to be on your site?

2. What does your site need to do?

3. What are your future plans for your organization?

4. Who is going to build it?

5. How is it going to be built?

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit our website at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/5-decisions-you-need-to-make-before-you-build-your-new-website

But someone recently asked me, “Do businesses even need websites anymore?” (After which I almost fainted in shock.) But it prompted my wheels turning. 

Maybe we need to take a teensy step back. 

And instead of all this constant talk about what to put on your site and how to build it and what features it should have we need to first address those of you who don’t even know if you need the stinking thing.

So we made a quiz!

So we put together a simple quiz to help you decide if you’re one of the special exceptions who actually don’t need a website. Keep track of your responses; by the end, you’ll have your answer!

For a fully-formatted article version of this content, visit: https://mayecreate.com/blog/quiz-do-you-even-need-a-website

So it’s not a wonder we develop an unrelenting case of writer's block when it comes time to craft our fundraising asks. They combine both into the perfect cocktail of yuck. In this episode, Kasey Hammock, storyteller and conspirator for good, explains what story-based content is and how to keep it ethical and organized. She shares how she gathers stories and gives us a recipe to use when writing our fundraising asks.

Timestamps

Introducing Kasey Hammock, Local Conspirator for Good - 0:58
What is story-based content? - 3:18
What is ethical storytelling and how is it used? - 5:10
How to use storytelling to meet your goal - 11:42
How to find and gather story ideas - 14:48
Tools to use for storytelling and testimonials - 19:35
How to craft your story - 21:54
How to recycle content for multiple platforms - 27:30
Ask for help with storytelling - 30:56

To read a fully-formatted article version of this content, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/mastering-story-based-content-with-guest-kasey-hammock/

In my over 23 years of website development, I’ve collected several stories that will make your skin crawl. From sites that just won’t die to havoc-wreaking hackers, we’ve seen just about everything. Let’s explore some of the scariest. 

To view this content as a fully-formatted blog post, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/11-true-tales-from-the-crypt-website-horror-stories/

We love to come up with ideas. We don't always love to make them happen, but we love the joy of considering them. I listen to podcasts and read emails, newsletters and blog posts just for the ideas to get my creative juices flowing.

So today, we're gonna get your creative juices flowing and talk about creative ways to promote GivingTuesday.

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/creative-ways-to-promote-givingtuesday/

Nick Black isn’t who you would expect to start a nonprofit, or a tech company. Until you talk to him, and all the pieces come together.

After serving in the Army in Pakistan, Nick was faced with a problem he knew he had to do something to solve. So he started a nonprofit. Through that, he discovered the giving experience wasn’t the same for all donors, and he knew he had to solve that problem too. Now he’s on the podcast, sharing how you can capitalize on the ways you already interact with donors to make their experience better and raise more than ever before.

Timestamps

Introduction of Nick Black, Stop Soldier Suicide and GoodUnited - 1:47
Finding your donors - 4:05
Defining social giving - 6:49
Figuring out where to start - 12:47
Utilizing available resources on LinkedIn - 15:18
Cultivating support in channel through messaging - 18:19
Navigating social giving - 21:52
Integrating GoodUnited with other systems - 24:44
Transitioning from the military to nonprofits to tech - 25:13

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, visit our blog at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/democratizing-fundraising-through-social-giving-with-guest-nick-black/

Your domain name is the navigator for your business's digital footprint.

It's important to get a good one, because we've all dealt with bad ones, spelling them on repeat on the phone, giving up and sending an email with a link instead. If you’re currently stuck doing this, it is a sign your domain name sucks. Let’s change that.

What makes an awesome domain name?

There are simple steps you can take to get a great domain name, perfect for your company or organization. 

• Choose the right domain name extension
• Make sure your domain name makes sense and is as close to your organization name as possible
• Keep your domain name short
• If your company name is hard to spell, buy variations of your domain name
• Make sure it can be read easily, and doesn’t say any bad things
• Purchase general domain names available for your industry and location, but get your company name as well
• Choose a registrar, and stay up to date with your payments

To read a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit our website at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-to-pick-a-domain-name-that-doesn39t-suck

Episode Highlights

Introduction to Heather - 1:22
Components of a good year-end ask letter - 4:18
Importance of personal connection in Asks - 8:45
Recap of year-end ask process/donor process - 10:48
How to tie your ask and other marketing together - 14:37
Using your team effectively - 17:34
When and if to use fundraising themes - 20:41
Organizing and segmenting your donor list - 25:24
Should you recycle content - 30:00
Quick tips for creating a year-end ask - 33:27
Learn more about the Voluntary Action Center (VAC) - 36:04

For a fully-formatted article version of this episode, visit: https://mayecreate.com/blog/creating-a-year-end-ask-that-sticks-with-guest-heather-stewart/

Episode Highlights

Introduction of Jaime Friedrichs - 1:12
What’s the right mindset for asking for donations? - 3:52
How do you ask for donations for administrative costs? - 5:55
Should you include data and numbers in your ask? - 11:46
What three things must be in your ask - 15:30
Should you theme your giving campaigns? - 18:23
Do you need additional materials to support your ask? - 21:17
Are there benefits of fundraising for a specific thing over general needs? - 28:56
What can you do to build and maintain donor relationships? - 33:33
Fundraising ask example and role play - 35:08

For a fully-formatted version of this interview, visit our website at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/asking-for-donations-to-add-a-new-staff-member-or-raise-money-for-admin-costs-with-guest-jaime-friedrichs/

She shares inside knowledge about:

• Current fundraising trends
• How organizations can embrace text messaging to communicate with donors
• Changes in the pipe for Network for Good
• What Bonterra’s recent purchase of Network for Good means for the company
• Ways to deepen relationships with donors by meeting them where they are

You’re sure to walk away with at least a nugget or two of goodness from this interview or at least enjoy geeking out with us!

Timestamps

Introducing Kimberly O’Donnel and Network for Good - 0:41
Fundraising trends - 10:23
Should we text donors? - 18:36
Exploring ways to connect to encourage donations - 23:15
The importance of communicating authentically - 26:40
Finding time to do the work - 32:36
Listening to customers to improve Network for Good - 38:23
Resources available through Network for Good - 46:55
Becoming “anti-fragile” - 52:52
Where to find more about Network for Good - 54:34

For a fully-formatted blog post of this episode, visit https://mayecreate.com/blog/the-future-of-fundraising-with-network-for-goods-kimberly-odonnell/

Highlights

Introductions of Michelle, Laura and MoDE Foundation - 2:13
Getting started with CoMoGives - 8:04
Using training and templates to raise $20,000 - 10:14
What would they change or keep for next year? - 15:28
Creating a mini-event within the campaign - 17:28
Utilizing targeted peer-to-peer giving - 21:42
Reaching donors through personalized thank you notes - 27:33
Advice for others participating in year-end giving campaigns - 32:10
Gaining momentum through cooperation with other organizations - 34:55
Learn more about MoDE Foundation - 41:00

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/year-end-giving-success-story-missouri-disability-empowerment-foundation/

They converted over from Neon and really like the data management and integration tools Bloomerang offers. Join me as I interview Wende to learn why!

Highlights

Introduction to the Missouri Symphony - 1:31

Donor Management before Bloomerang - 5:14

Functionality of Bloomerang - 11:14

Using Bloomerang for Events - 13:59

Fom building capabilities in Bloomerang - 15:40

Bloomerang integration with accounting software - 24:48

Reporting in Bloomerang - 29:39

Using Bloomerang for printed mailings - 35:37

What Bloomerang costs and advice - 39:00

How to contact Wende - 43:15

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/bloomerang-from-a-users-perspective-with-guest-wende-wagner/

Spoiler Alert - for Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, it totally is. From ticket sales to donor data management to text reminders, Network for Good helps them market with purpose. 

Billy Polansky and his team at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture had been using a cobbled together system revolving around Microsoft Access which was better than nothing but not what they needed. After reviewing 3 or 4 systems they decided on Network for Good. Hear how they use it and why they love it as I interview Billy in this episode!

Highlights

Introduction to Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture - 1:49
Why invest in a donor management system? - 4:25
What does Network for Good do? - 6:40
How does Network for Good integrate ticket sales and giving? - 10:53
How easy is it to import existing data? - 15:08
How easy is it to learn and use Network for Good? - 17:17
How often does Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture use the communication features? - 22:00
What customization options are available? - 25:20
What is customer support like? - 27:04
Is Network for Good a good value for the cost? - 28:37
Where to learn more about Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture - 36:40

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/network-for-good-from-a-users-perspective-with-guest-billy-polansky/

While everything is getting back to “normal,” I don't want you to forget the things you learned when you couldn't fundraise the same way you always had. 

We shouldn’t leave the skills we developed out of necessity on the table. 

Let’s review some tech-easy online fundraising event ideas we talked about way back in 2020. Those events, those activities, can fill in the gap for you. They can boost your fundraising. 

Read the blog post at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/tech-easy-online-fundraising-event-ideas/

Download 14 Tech-Easy Online Event Ideas for Fundraising

This is the first major change in over a decade. My frenemy Google keeps emailing me about how stuff is changing, and my greatest fear is all those emails get stuck in your junk mail. 

Google is trying to create something that will be an equally awesome as the Universal Analtyics tracking system we've enjoyed for so long without making people use cookies to track user behavior on the websites. 

Universal Analytics is going to stop processing data on July 1, 2023. 

Having a deadline is great and all but here’s the deal. We don’t know how long your current account is going to exist, and we don’t know how long you’re going to have access to it. We all need to get on board and make the switch ASAP. In this episode I'll tell you who need to worry about it, who doesn't and what to do to keep the data rolling in!

Read this episide in blog form at: https://mayecreate.com/blog/google-analytics-4-the-time-to-freak-out-is-nigh/

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/using-square-as-a-crm-with-guest-enola-white/

So let’s dig in and talk about the number one way that you can protect your website from hackers.

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/1-way-to-protect-your-website-from-hackers/

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/why-do-hackers-hack

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/10-intern-management-tips-from-my-former-interns

There are always moments in your business where you think to yourself, “man, if I just had another set of hands, I could be much more successful.” This is why we hire interns.

I have hired a lot of interns in the 17 years I have operated my company, MayeCreate Design. Some of them have been amazing. Some of them have been not amazing. 

I am going to talk you through the ins and outs of marketing interns, what they're really great at and what they're not so great at.

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/hiring-a-marketing-intern-what-theyre-good-for-and-where-to-find-them/

This is coming directly out of an online offering that we have available online: https://mayecreate.com/10-social-posts-every-fundraiser-event-needs

We tell you what to put in these types of posts, some examples, and a template for you to copy and paste. It’s a pretty valuable resource, so I think you should hop over and download it. Stick around and we’ll tell you more about it!

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/10-social-posts-every-fundraiser-or-event-needs

These changes are a slow and random rollout eventually coming for all Pages. You can hold out for a little while longer, but this change is definitely coming, and it’s not going to be optional for long.

Here's what you need to know...

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/facebook-changed-pages-what-that-means-for-you

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: 

https://www.mayecreate.com/blog/year-end-giving-prep-starting-now-volunteer-cultivation-with-guest-carol-bennis

Each one comes with different things to consider, let's go through each option and define the decision-making factors. Then, you can decide which kind of designer is right for you.

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/the-7-types-of-web-designers

We hadn’t remodeled anything before. No one gave us a checklist to follow…so imagine our surprise when we were presented with 1000s of dollars in “upgrades” that we thought were included in the original estimate.

Luckily website remodels tend to cost far less then home remodels. But still, no one likes being sent an extra invoice for work they thought was part of the original project plan.

Because just like we hadn’t ever gone through a home remodel before you don't build websites every day, so how can you possibly be expected to know what’s included and what’s not? 

That’s what this post is all about. Uncovering the 10 most common things you might think are included.

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/whats-not-included-in-your-web-design

I was a huge MailChimp fan…until I had to use it regularly myself. It has some very positive features. I’m not saying MailChimp isn’t right for you though, I support over 60 clients who use the system and love it. 

Last year we switched from MailChimp to MailerLite but before making that decision I  interviewed MANY email systems from SendInBlue to ConvertKit before settling into MailerLite. And you know what, it’s not perfect either. But it is better for me, sort of. At least I hate it less.

I’ve created new workarounds and I still have a stupid spreadsheet but at least now I don’t need google maps to find my way around. I’m going to give you my honest review after using MailerLite for the past year and a half and MailChimp for God knows how many so you can see which one might make you less pissed as you’re building your marketing emails.  Here goes…

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/mailchimp-vs-mailerlite

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/fast-loading-website-formula/

Join us to learn how the 2021 CoMoGives campaign was promoted, what worked, what didn't and how we'll adjust to make it even better next year. John Baker, director of Community Foundation of Central Missouri (the foundation that powers CoMoGives), will talk through the ins and outs of planning and supporting our community's $1.8M with MayeCreate's Monica Pitts and Stacy Brockmeier.

For a fully-formatted article version of this blog, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/learn-how-our-community-raise-1-8m-in-one-month-with-john-baker-stacy-brockmeier

At MayeCreate, we love solving problems. One we solve day after day for our clients is helping their businesses run smoother by leveraging their website to take some of the day to day heavy lifting off of their staff. 

We’re gonna go through six cool website integrations that help boost workflow and efficency (with maybe some bonuses thrown in for fun).

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/cool-website-integrations-that-save-you-time-which-saves-you-money/

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/how-one-woman-does-the-work-of-10-celebrating-central-missouri-community-action

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/np-marketing-inventory-checklist

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/6-design-tools-libraries-to-get-your-creative-on/

So if you’re one of those people, how do you get past the ideas stage?

Let's talk through it...

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/blog/if-youre-new-have-tons-of-ideas-and-dont-know-where-to-focus-start-here

Here are our favorite tools to keep creativity flowing and crush lag time. 

For a fully-formatted article version of this podcast, head over to our website: https://mayecreate.com/9-free-and-cheap-marketing-tools