Let me ask you something. If you could talk directly to your audience whenever you wanted, no algorithm, no hoping your post gets seen, would you? That’s exactly what a newsletter is. At its core, a newsletter is simply a way to stay in touch with people who already care about what you do. They’ve raised their hand, joined your list, and said, “I want to hear from you.” And that’s powerful, especially during the holiday season. Here’s why it matters for your business. Instead of constantly chasing new people, a newsletter lets you build a relationship over time. You show up in their inbox, share something useful, tell a story, give value… and when you do have an offer, it doesn’t feel forced. During the holidays, this works even better because people are already in a buying mindset. Most businesses use newsletters to: - Share holiday offers and promotions - Educate their audience - Tell their brand story - Drive traffic and sales without sounding salesy And the best part? It’s low cost, high return, and you own the audience. The process is simple: Someone subscribes → you send consistent value → trust builds → sales follow. When a newsletter is done right, you don’t need to push. Your audience is already warmed up. If you have questions or want to add your own experience, drop a comment below

This time of year, people don’t overthink. They see something, hear about a business, and go straight to look it up. If your website is clear and easy to navigate, that moment turns into trust. If it’s missing or confusing, the interest disappears just as fast. A website helps people reach you quickly, understand what you offer, and feel confident choosing you, especially during busy festive seasons. I’m fully aware that not every business can afford a website right now. Festive seasons come with extra expenses, and a website can feel like something to “push to later.” But sometimes, having the right online presence at the right moment makes all the difference. I’m an experienced web designer, and before the year ends, I want to support two business owners who truly need a website but can’t afford one right now. I’ll be building two business websites completely free. No catch, I’m doing this to help and to continue growing my portfolio with real businesses and real impact. If you already have a website and something feels off, whether it’s the design, clarity, or flow, feel free to leave a comment. I’m happy to share honest feedback. This is simply about helping where I can, especially during this season.

A lot of people ask “okay, but how do I actually do primary marketing?” So I want to share a few very practical frameworks you can use right away, no big audience, no fancy tools. Framework 1: The 5 Conversation Rule Your goal is to have just 5 real conversations with people who fit your target audience. Ask them things like: What are you currently struggling with? What have you tried already? What feels frustrating or confusing right now? You’re not selling anything at this time, you’re listening to them. By conversation 5, you’ll already start seeing patterns. Framework 2: The “Before / During / After” Questions This helps you understand their journey. Before: What was happening before this became a problem? During: What makes this hard or stressful right now? After: If this were solved, what would change? This gives you powerful language for content and offers that you want to put out. Framework 3: Pattern Tracking (This Is Key) Write down repeated words, emotions, and frustrations. When multiple people say the same thing in different ways, that’s bingo. Those patterns become your messaging. Framework 4: Community Listening Go where your audience already hangs out and just observe:• Listen to questions that are asked repeatedly• Lookout for posts that get the most engagement• Lookout for what they complain about? You don’t always have to ask them, sometimes listening is enough. Primary marketing doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be intentional. Drop a comment and tell me what would help most.

Most people think marketing starts with posting content, running ads, or building a website. That’s actually secondary marketing, and it only works well when it’s done in the right order. Secondary marketing is what you do after you understand your audience. Once you know who you’re talking to and what they care about, this is how you start showing up in front of more people. It shows up as things like content, emails, websites, partnerships, or even ads. The difference is that you’re no longer guessing what to say. Your message is shaped by real conversations and real problems your audience shared with you. To implement secondary marketing, you don’t need to do everything at once. Start by choosing one place where your audience already spends time. Then use what you learned from your research to talk about their challenges, explain how you help, and guide them toward a clear next step. When secondary marketing is done right, things start to feel easier. People understand what you do faster, your content feels more relevant, trust builds quicker, and growth becomes more consistent instead of random. If you’re unsure where to start or how to apply this to your business, drop a comment, happy to help.

Let’s be honest, most businesses don’t struggle because they’re bad. They struggle because people don’t see them. From what I’ve seen, it usually comes down to a few common habits we don’t even realize we’re repeating: . Not being clear on who you’re talking to: If your message sounds general, people won’t connect with it. Marketing works best when you know exactly who you’re speaking to. . Talking about your offer instead of their problem: People don’t care about features first, they care about whether you understand their struggle. When they feel understood, they stay and listen. . Being inconsistent: Marketing is really about staying visible. If you disappear, people forget, and someone else fills that space. . No clear next step: Great content isn’t enough if people don’t know what to do next. Simple direction creates action. . Overthinking instead of showing up: Most people wait for “perfect.” But consistency always beats perfection. When you fix these, your message gets clearer, your visibility improves, and marketing starts to feel easier. Which one do you struggle with the most? Drop it in the comments, let’s talk.