Business

Breakthrough Brand Podcast – Online Business Growth, Website Design Strategies, Grow a Podcast, Motherhood and Business, Passive Income, Christian Faith, Showit Templates

Welcome to The Breakthrough Brand Podcast — your go-to for relatable, raw, and tactical business training designed to help you hit those big goals! I’m Elizabeth McCravy, a website designer and business educator for female entrepreneurs. I’ve built a multiple six-figure web design business in my 20s, and I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned so you can do it too. No secrets, just real talk and proven strategies for building a thriving business.

I’m a Christian business owner, mama to two boys (with baby #3 on the way!), and married to my high school sweetheart. I sell Showit website templates at elizabethmccravy.com and teach fellow designers how to build booked-out businesses through my course, Booked Out Designer. I also teach business owners how to start and scale a podcast in my program, Podcast Success Blueprint.

On this podcast, you’ll find solo episodes packed with actionable, easy-to-follow advice and inspiring expert interviews. We’ll dive into everything from online marketing, branding, podcasting, and business strategy, to faith, motherhood, productivity, and scaling your business. Let’s create a business that not only looks amazing from the outside but feels amazing on the inside too. It’s time to build your breakthrough brand!

Latest Episodes:

226: Beyond Project Management: How ClickUp and Other PM Tools Should Become Your Digital Workspace with Courtney Lazar of SystemsUp Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

I switched my business workspace manager to ClickUp last fall, and it was a big decision. A lot went into the switch, but ultimately, it was the best thing for my business. In today's episode, we dive into the world of business productivity and systems with special guest Courtney Lazar, the CEO and founder of SystemsUp. Courtney shares her expertise in systems solutions, helping six and seven-figure online business owners transform their operations.

In our conversation, we discussed:

Managing shiny object syndrome with project managers
Choosing the right tools for your business (including ClickUp, Asana, and Notion)
How to better automate your systems
How ClickUp differs from tools like Dubsado and HoneyBook
Our favorite ClickUp tools
Ways to create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for your business
Keeping your end goal in mind when implementing systems

While this episode focuses on ClickUp, there is plenty of valuable content for everyone, whether or not you currently use or are interested in ClickUp. Courtney and I have been friends online for years, and her journey as a supportive mom and business owner is truly inspiring.

Links Mentioned:

Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/226

Watch the Full Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZnwNDU10Mxw

Grab My Marketing Guide With the Reasons People Buy: https://elizabethmccravy.com/reasons

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://instagram.com/elizabethmccravy

Connect with Courtney on Instagram: https://instagram.com/systemsup

Find more about Courtney: https://wearesystemsup.com/

Shop Elizabeth McCravy Templates: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

If you're a new business owner who still doesn't have a website yet, I made something for you. It's a free 15-page guide that walks you through exactly what you need to launch your first website — what to skip, what actually matters, and the five steps to go from zero to live. No coding, no big budget, no perfection required. Plus you'll get 20% off my Showit templates inside! Get it FREE at https://elizabethmccravy.com/

Need some extra pages to improve or add onto your Showit website, BUT you’re not in the market for an entirely new template? You need my Add On Templates for Showit! You'll find add ons like speaker pages, podcast pages, quiz lead magnets, favorite things pages, Link in Bio pages, and more.

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

225: Creating 30 Days of Content in 5 Days: How to Get Out of the Feast or Famine Marketing Cycle You’re Stuck in with Amanda Warfield Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, I got to sit down with Amanda Warfield of Chasing Simple, a simplicity-focused content marketing expert and launch strategist. Amanda helps her clients and students simplify their marketing efforts, allowing them to find the time to market their businesses without being overwhelmed. I was thrilled to have her on the podcast today!

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of "Feast or Famine Marketing" and how content marketing plays a crucial role in breaking free from this cycle. Some of the highlights include:

How can we decide how much content is “enough”?
How important is consistency, really?
A simple 5 day process to batching a month’s worth of content
What people get wrong about “batching”
How to get out of creative ruts

And honestly - so much more! If you’ve been falling into the feast or famine marketing cycle (where you only have time to market when you have no clients!), you are going to love her fresh approach. This has been one of my favorite interviews so far! Make sure to tune in, and grab your own copy of Amanda’s new book - Chasing Simple Marketing - over on Amazon!

Links Mentioned:

Get the Full Shownotes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/225

Watch the Full Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gxDTNU2YEoM

Buy Amanda’s Book - Chasing Simple Marketing: https://rstyle.me/+-oKC9t3TCKpe11pArIujQQ

Listen to Elizabeth’s Interview on Amanda’s Podcast (Chasing Simple): https://amandawarfield.com/029/

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://instagram.com/elizabethmccravy

Connect with Amanda on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mrsamandawarfield

Find more about Amanda: https://amandawarfield.com/

Shop Elizabeth McCravy Templates:

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

224: Launching an Unaligned Offer: 8 Lessons Learned from Closing My Membership After Only a Few Months Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

In the previous episode, I shared the mistakes I made during the creation and launch of my membership (and explained why I eventually chose to shut it down!). While I briefly touched on it before, I wanted to go deeper in this episode to explain why I don’t regret the experience AT ALL. In today's podcast, I’m sharing the eight lessons I learned throughout the whole experience and how it’s impacted the way I’m operating my business now.

These lessons aren't limited to those already thinking about launching a membership either – I believe they're also incredibly helpful for anyone running a business. They aren’t exclusive to a membership model! I talk about offer gaps, holding the vision as a business owner, selling access to myself and so much more.

Want more membership related content like this episode? DM me on Instagram and let me know! And in the meantime, if you haven’t checked out my Showit template shop lately, you need to. We’ve launched a TON of new templates lately. Use code BBPODCAST for 10% off!

Links Mentioned:

Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/224
Shop all of the Elizabeth McCravy Shop templates (use code BBPODCAST for 10% off!): https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop
Join my FREE Breakthrough Brand All Access Facebook Group: https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook
Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

223: Why I Closed My 170-Member Paid Membership (+ My 3 Biggest Mistakes!) Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

In the online space, we often talk about the good without the bad, right? When we hear about memberships, they are often praised as recurring and consistent revenue and when we think about memberships failing, it’s often because we didn’t “sell” enough. These things were NOT necessarily the case for me, and while I could have “fixed” the mistakes I made, I ultimately decided to close my 170 person membership last year. While I don’t regret it (starting it OR ending it), this episode shares the behind-the-scenes pretty vulnerably and I hope you enjoy it!

In this episode, I’m talking about all things memberships, including:

What mine was (Breakthrough Brand All Access)
How I created and launched it
Why it ultimately didn't work
How I decided to ultimately shut it down
3 mistakes I made along the way (and how to avoid them).

Make sure to tune in next week too for some of the biggest lessons I learned when launching a membership!

Links Mentioned:

Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/223
Grab your free copy of the reasons people buy: https://elizabethmccravy.com/reasons
Shop all of the Elizabeth McCravy Shop templates: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop
Join my FREE Breakthrough Brand All Access Facebook Group: https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook
Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

222: Peek BTS of the Showit Customer Support Team: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Couldn't Ask Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

I've been eagerly anticipating this episode's release. If you're a fellow Breakthrough Brand podcast enthusiast, you'll already know how much I adore Showit. As a long-time user and design partner, I even dream in its interface! I can't help but gush about it. However, I understand that website platforms, including Showit, can sometimes feel overwhelming. That's why I invited Showit support Pro, Parker Pearson, to join me for a conversation about all things Showit.

And hey - if you are listening to this in real time, head over to my Instagram page for one of the biggest giveaways I’ve done yet! Parker and I are giving away an entire YEAR subscription to Showit, plus a $400 gift card to my template shop. Amazing, right?!

This interview isn't your typical technical setup guide. It's way more intriguing and helpful than that. We talk about things like:

What's the number one question the Showit support team gets in their inbox?
What's a day like working at the Showit office?
What does Parker love most about Showit?
How Showit has changed over the years, since he first started as a team member?
What are some hangups and headaches around launching your site and how can we better deal with those?
How to get faster and better support from Showit's team?

We also just talk a little bit about who Parker is (a real person that you have likely had a conversation with on Showit tech support!). He’s kind of the “extroverted” face of Showit tech support, and honestly, he really is just amazing! It’s so nice hearing from someone “behind the scenes”!

Links Mentioned:

- Enter the Showit giveaway: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuj8cRDO2cD/

- Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/222
- Shop all of the Elizabeth McCravy Shop templates: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop
- Sign up for a free trial AND 30 days free of Showit: https://elizabethmccravy.com/freemonth
- Join my FREE Breakthrough Brand All Access Facebook Group: https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook
- Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram, and enter the Giveaway: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

221: 5 Ways I'm Growing My Website Traffic This Year Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

We're already halfway through 2023, and today, I want to share what I've been doing this year to grow my website traffic. This was one of my BIG goals for 2023, and in today’s episode I’m going to share what I’ve tried, what’s been successful, and what the jury is still out on. Whether you're a newcomer to these methods or are already using them, I hope you'll find some insights that will be helpful in growing YOUR traffic this year!

In this episode, I share:

5 ways I’m growing my traffic this year (and how some of them are connected)
The platform I’m not quite sure about just yet (it’s not TikTok!)
What I’m trying to do with my lifestyle content now
How I can turn one piece of content into three
And more!

SALE ALERT! All templates are 20% off right now through 7/5 with the code "FIREWORK" at checkout! This includes add ons like the Speaker template and quiz template plus the new Kacie template!

Links Mentioned:

- Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/221

- Check out my new Showit template (Kacie!): https://elizabethmccravy.com/kacie

- Join my FREE Breakthrough Brand All Access Facebook Group: https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook

- Steal These 5 Secrets for Using Dubsado to Book More Clients: https://elizabethmccravy.com/dubsado-for-designers

- Shop all of the Elizabeth McCravy Shop templates: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

- Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

220: Steal My 8 Step System To Profit First Each Month (Part Two) Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Want to know EXACTLY what I do each month in my business? Want these 8 steps in a step-by-step guide format with screenshots and examples? Get the FREE guide at https://elizabethmccravy.com/profit-first-guide

Last week, I shared my honest review of Profit First, since implementing it into my own business just over six months ago. If you haven’t listened yet, go back and listen to it because I share all about the percentage breakdown, how I set up my accounts, and how I use it to get an “at a glance” view of my business finances.

Today, I'm excited to share with you my detailed process of using Profit First accounting in my business each month. My system of doing it might be slightly different from what author Mike Michalowicz suggests in his book, and I’m also going to share a few extra things like my sales tracker in ClickUp. Essentially, I am going to take you on a deep dive into my process, sharing each step along the way. If you love a behind-the-scenes look into someone’s business and have been thinking about implementing Profit First (or just looking to take your financial prowess up a notch, I’m sure you are going to love today’s episode!

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/219

- Get all 8 Steps in a step-by-step guide with screenshots and examples at: https://elizabethmccravy.com/profit-first-guide

- Join our FREE Breakthrough Brand Facebook Group: https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook

- Connect with Elizabeth on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy

- Shop all of our Showit Website Templates: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

- Buy The Profit First Book: https://rstyle.me/+33cGG1wZcw27QExfi5HnEw

- Looking for a better way to know your numbers? Check out my profit sheet: https://elizabethmccravy.com/profit-sheet

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

219: 6 Months into Using the Profit First Accounting Method - An Honest Review + Tips! Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

If you’ve been in the online space for a while, you may have heard of “doing Profit First”, which is based on the popular book Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. It’s a way of taking your profit first (literally) instead of looking at your profit as “what’s left over” after all of your expenses have been paid.

When I started using this accounting method in December, I knew I had to share it with my podcast community. In this episode (part one of two), I'm going to share what Profit First is and how I set it up for my business. But listen - if you're new to Profit First, that's okay! I'll explain it all to you. And if you're not a fan of accounting, I get it. But I promise that in this episode I am going to make it practical and share what's working for me financially right now.

I’m sharing all about setting up Profit First accounts, my different percentages, how I close out my finances each month, and more. There's a lot to cover… so get comfortable! And hey, if you love this topic, be sure to tune in next week for part two, where I'll go even more in-depth and walk you through exactly how I manage my finances at the end of each month.

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/219

- Join our FREE Breakthrough Brand Facebook Group: https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook

- Connect with Elizabeth on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy

- Buy The Profit First Book: https://rstyle.me/+33cGG1wZcw27QExfi5HnEw

- Looking for a better way to know your numbers? Check out my profit sheet: https://elizabethmccravy.com/profit-sheet

Book Your Next Client ASAP: https://elizabethmccravy.com/ASAP

Check Out The Official Profit First Bank: https://elizabethmccravy.com/relay

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

218: Navigating Conflict in Your Business with Confidence: Expert Tips for Handling Tough Team and Client Conversations with Jillian Dolberry Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

Whether you are like me and work with a small team of contractors, or you are looking to hire your first contractor, this episode is for you! And hey - even if you don’t have a team yet, we are talking about difficult conversations and setting boundaries with clients, too, so this episode absolutely still applies.

Today, I’ve brought Jillian Dolberry onto the podcast because she is a PRO at teams (she specifically works with VA’s and OBM’s through her membership “Serve Your Heart Out”) and she also works with CEO’s on team-building, hiring, and leadership. So basically - she’s seen BOTH sides of this! I was thrilled to have her join me as a guest on the podcast!

We cover everything from:

The difference between a VA and an OBM
How we should be setting and enforcing our boundaries
How can we show grace to our team through difficult conversations
What we need to be doing BEFORE we let someone go
Whether or not you should treat your team like family
And so much more!

And hey, do you want to take this conversation about team-building and setting boundaries further? The Breakthrough Brand All Access Facebook Group is a GREAT place to do that! You might just find your next business bff or team member inside! Join us at https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/218

- Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/MeuoiNYmPsA

- Join our FREE Breakthrough Brand Facebook Group: https://elizabethmccravy.com/facebook

- Connect with Elizabeth on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy

- Connect with Jillian on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliandolberry/

- Check out Jillian’s New Website: https://jilliandolberry.com/

- Love her website? You’ll love the Gabby template: https://elizabethmccravy.com/gabby

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

217: 5 Expert Tips for Becoming an Unforgettable Podcast Guest in 2023 Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

I’ve been a guest on MANY podcasts at this point over the last 7 years of owning my business. I still remember being absolutely terrified before my first interview. I came prepared with about 4 pages of outlined notes and had literally rehearsed answers to the questions I knew I’d be asked! Not kidding! Who can relate?

Now, YEARS later, I can go on a show and feel confident in my answers with very little preparation (in comparison, anyway!). But I still make sure I’m always showing up for interviews prepared and trying to be a good podcast guest because truly, it matters. This person (the podcast host - whomever it is!) is allowing you to be in front of their people with your message. It’s worth thinking about ahead of time, and coming to the conversation energized and ready to SERVE! (And being ready to serve once the episode airs days or months later too.)

Today, I’m sharing:

5 game-changing strategies to help you elevate your podcast guest game
What you should include on a media page to make it easier for hosts!
Before you pitch to be a podcast guest, what you need to do first
A pre-episode task list you can use every time
And so much more!

I’ve also made you something to make your life as a podcast guest and speaker even easier. My BRAND NEW Speaker Template for Showit is available now! Head to https://elizabethmccravy.com/speaker to check out this amazing new add on template. There’s even a Media Kit page included, plus lots of bonus canvases to give you the custom pages your business needs! And, this week only, ALL of my templates are 20% off to celebrate these new templates launching. Use code “ADDON” for 20% off everything through Friday, June 9th!

Links Mentioned:

- Get the full show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/217

- *NEW* Grab My Speaker Template: https://elizabethmccravy.com/speaker

- *NEW* Check Out My New Showit Quiz Lead Magnet Template: https://elizabethmccravy.com/quiz-template

- Shop all Showit Website Templates: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

- Check out Booked Out Designer: http://elizabethmccravy.com/BOD

- Connect with Elizabeth on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy

Use the code “BBPOD”to save 15% on your add on or full site template for a limited time: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

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