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:

164: 5 Fascinating Social Media Marketing Lessons We Can Learn From the Top Influencers/Bloggers Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

Love them or hate them, the big influencers have figured out a lot about running successful personal brand businesses, and we can learn from what they do as we build our businesses. I personally enjoy following influencers, whether it’s the lifestyle, fitness, travel, motherhood, or fashion influencer — I enjoy their content and often buy products they share. These men and women are excellent marketers, and in today’s episode, I’m taking social media marketing strategies I see these influencers using and sharing how you can apply it to your non-influencer business!

I get my best marketing ideas from businesses completely outside of my own industry, from places like true crime podcasts to Whole Foods sales calendars, and… influencers too. If you don’t follow any influencers yourself, then some of these strategies will be harder to connect with. But, if you’re like me and you have a favorite go-to influencer, then you’re gonna totally get what I’m saying here! So, cheers to upleveling our marketing with some interesting influencer-strategies.

Links mentioned in the episode:

See ways to work with me: https://elizabethmccravy.com/ways-to-work-together
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/
Get the full show notes and all links mentioned: https://elizabethmccravy.com/164
Connect on my website: http://elizabethmccravy.com/

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

163: Quit Wasting Time: 7 Strategies to Protect Your Calendar and Schedule Meetings Like a Pro May 24, 2022

Show notes

If you know me, you know I love a good calendar and productivity conversation, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today! I’m sharing strategies to help you protect your time, schedule meetings with more efficiency, and think strategically about your calendar and meetings. Whether it’s an in-person meeting, a zoom video call or a phone call, they all take time, energy, and effort. AND, meetings take away from the much needed deep work we do in our businesses. Meetings are a necessary part of running our businesses though, so let’s make it WORK for us instead of being something that slows us down.

I’ve had weeks in my business where I’ve let meetings slow me down and ruin my productivity because there are too many of them or they are poorly spaced out simply because I wasn’t protecting my calendar. So, these are my favorite meeting and calendar management tips from my calendar to yours! Enjoy!

Links mentioned in the episode:

See ways to work with me: https://elizabethmccravy.com/ways-to-work-together
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/
Get the full show notes and all links mentioned: https://elizabethmccravy.com/163
Connect on my website: http://elizabethmccravy.com/

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

162: VIRAL ON INSTAGRAM: 4.4 Million Plays Later! What I’ve Learned From My Viral Baby Reel May 03, 2022

Show notes

In April, I posted a (very cute) video of my baby doing what appears to be a little baby workout, and… it went viral! 3.2 million views at the time I’m recording this, and probably more as you are hearing the episode. It’s had 171k+ likes, 1,532 comments, 125k+ shares, and over 10k saves. (And growing… I’ll add updates to these shownotes as I have them!)

So today, we’re taking a casual look at this reel. I’m sharing what I think helped it “go viral”, lessons learned from this process, what I’d do differently next time, and some random things that have come of this video (like more followers and rude trolls). If you’re interested in growing with Reels, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation a lot. I’m learning alongside you! I love social media marketing strategy, but I’m honestly NOT a “Reels expert”. I’m sharing my experience, but with plenty of tips throughout!

Links mentioned in the episode:

Watch the viral reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cb-XXP_AjB-/
Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/
Get the full shownotes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/162
Connect on my website: http://elizabethmccravy.com/

*UPDATES:* Since recording this episode, the video has passed 4.4 million plays and the new version I made (with new text on video and new caption) has not really taken off, which is interesting to observe. I’ve also been asked to sell the licensing rights to the video by multiple companies, which I’ve been exploring, but will probably say no to.

I hope you enjoy this episode, and I’d love to continue the conversation over on Instagram! Find me @elizabethmccravy.

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

161: My Team Building Story: Hiring, Outsourcing, Terrible Hires, Delegating and More! (Answering Your Top Questions!) Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

I’m answering your questions about MY team specifically and how I do team and systems in my business. If you love learning through hearing what other people do, you’ll love this episode. And, I’ve got plenty of tid bits throughout that you can apply to your business right now. Working with a team and NOT doing it all alone is a huge part of how I’ve built my business, how I’m able to work less hours and still grow, and a way I keep business fun and enjoyable.

Tune in to hear the answers to these questions:

How many members do you have in your team?
Are your teammates full-time or part-time employees or independent contractors?
What is the first thing you outsourced/hired out for? What did it look like for you when you first started outsourcing?
Have you ever made a wrong hire? Have you made any terrible hires?
Does your team design your templates?
How often do you talk to the people on your team? What does communication look like on the day to day?
Was it hard for you to give up the reins in your business to other people, especially fully over maternity leave?

PSST! COOL NEWS: I’ve got a new course coming soon all about TEAMS. This course is your step by step plan to hiring help in your business, and then doing business with a team day in and day out. And when I say team, I don’t mean 10 full time employees. Most of you (and myself included) don’t need that. I’m talking about building your small and mighty team that might just be one part-time contractor. If you want to scale your offers, maximize your time, and grow your business, this is a great way to do so! Head to https://elizabethmccravy.com/teams to take a quick survey and get on the waitlist for this new course. You might hear your questions from the survey on an upcoming podcast, and your answers will help me as I create this course!

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Take the teams survey and join the course waitlist: https://elizabethmccravy.com/teams

- Get the full shownotes for this episode at https://elizabethmccravy.com/161

- Shop the 20% off template sale: https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

- See the ways to work with me: https://elizabethmccravy.com/ways-to-work-together

- Join Booked Out Designer: https://elizabethmccravy.com/bod

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

160: Powerful Productivity and Time Management Secrets for the Busy Working Mom (from Some Amazing Entrepreneurial Women) Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

Ready to hear 9 different perspectives on productivity and time management as a working mom? This episode is sure to inspire you and give you ideas in your own journey as a working mama!

I asked some business friends to share with myself and you all, how their productivity changed when becoming a mom. Once I started back to work from my maternity leave (episode #157, #158, #139), I realized that so much of the productivity stuff we are taught doesn’t work so well when you’re juggling a baby too! My hours instantly became more limited, I was running on less sleep, and figuring out what to focus on first with my limited time and foggy brain became much harder. Now, I know not every stage isn’t like the newborn phase of motherhood, but regardless… It changes things about how you work.

These mamas are here to speak to that! In this episode you’ll be hearing from these women: Stephanie King, Kate Rosenow, Dawn Patton, Stacey Swan, Becky Hoschek, Abby Powell, Devonnae Williams, and Octavia Elease. And fun thing, Stacey and Abby are both on my core team in my business. And, Dawn is my accountant and Becky is our coach inside of Booked Out Designer! So, you’re getting to hear a little from Team EM on this one! :)

You’ll hear topics like morning routines, our relationship with God, scheduling strategies, “work life balance” stress, exercising as a mom, outsourcing things around your house, working during naptime, block scheduling tips, working part time in your business, routines, and so much more! We’ve got moms who homeschool, moms whose kids are in school all day. We’ve got moms of babies under 1, to toddlers, and all the way to the teen years and even adulthood. We’ve got a twin mama, a grandmother, and so many situations in all these stages of motherhood! ENJOY!

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Want to connect with these awesome women? You can get links to their websites and info on how you can connect with them here: http://elizabethmccravy.com/160

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

- Find out ways to work with me: https://elizabethmccravy.com/ways-to-work-together

- Interested in the Full Focus Planner Stephanie mentions? I use that planner too! Linking it here: https://elizabethmccravy.com/full-focus

- For more motherhood episodes, scroll back to episodes #139, #148, #158, and #159!

I love the advice here. It has blessed me, and I hope it blesses you as well. If you loved this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review or sharing with a fellow mama who this would encourage! Thanks for being here!

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

159: Multiple 5-Figure Months with Part-Time Work Hours — HOW?! Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

As the title of this episode says, and as I’ve talked about a few times recently on this podcast, I work part time hours in my business (typically 15-25 in a week right now), and my business brings in multiple five-figures each month in profits. I don’t think my business hours will be this way forever. However, as a new mama, I WANT to work less to have more time with my son. And, at least right now, my husband and I don’t have outside help for childcare. So, that’s the info, and I’m sharing the HOW. Specifically, 5 ways I’ve built my business to work this way, and how you can work towards this too. I’m getting super practical as to HOW I’m doing this exactly (like how it works to have a business that earns well and not be working myself into the ground everyday to make it happen).

Maybe you only have part-time hours to work in your business because you’re a stay at home mom or maybe you work another part-time job, or maybe this episode caught your eye simply because you’d like to work less! Whatever the reason, I think these tips (and seeing how I’m doing things) will help you build a successful business working the amount that you desire for this season of your life. (Again, seasons change and each SEASON of business brings new and different things!) I hope these 5 things I’m sharing encourage you and get your mind spinning with ideas for growing your business!

Psst… I am also sharing a little sneak peek into a new course I’m working on. You’re hearing it here first — literally! I’m not going to share about this anywhere else for now, so tune in to hear about it and to hear how you can join the waitlist + take a survey to tell me what you want to learn on this topic.

Links mentioned in the episode:

- Get the full show notes for this episode here: https://elizabethmccravy.com/159

- Episode #129 on scalable business models https://elizabethmccravy.com/129

Are we connected on Instagram? I’d love to hear what you think of this episode and anything else you’d love to hear covered on the podcast! https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

And as always, please share this episode with a friend who you think would benefit! Thanks for being here!

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

158: What My 5-ish Month Maternity Leave from My Business Was Really Like (the “day in, day out” life on maternity leave, emotional rollercoasters, and changing desires as a new mama!) Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

Last week we talked about early motherhood from a postpartum life perspective, now let’s talk about those early days from a BUSINESS perspective. I’m sharing all the nitty gritty details of my 5 month maternity leave. (It was about 5 ½ months total - including the time before Colin was actually born, which we’ll get into in this episode!)

On episode #139 (What I Did To Prepare For A 2 ½ Month Maternity Leave As An Online Business Owner), I told you all about how I planned a maternity leave from my business! Well, now maternity leave is over, and Colin is 6 months old!

I’ll be sharing…

- What taking so much time away from my business was like

- The hilariousness of the early days of my maternity leave while waiting on Colin to be born

- The experience of working a little bit but not “a lot” (because you never really “stop” as a business owner)

- 3 ways I’ve built a business that allows for this much time away while still thriving

- How did all my planning actually play out in real life

- How much I worked/didn’t work

- What it was like executing a Black Friday sale while on leave (and what I’d do differently next time)

- How my desires for my work life changed when becoming a mom

- My team members review of the leave

- Plus, plenty of random tips for you throughout!

This is in no way a COMPLETE picture of my maternity leave. I wish I could share every important detail, but the truth is… I forget a lot of things and this outline is already 10 pages as it is. I hope you’ll enjoy this casual and very real episode. And, I pray it helps you in some way as you plan time away from your business, whatever that looks like for you!

Links mentioned in the episode:

- Get the full show notes for this episode here: https://elizabethmccravy.com/158

- Episode #139 - Details on planning my maternity leave: https://elizabethmccravy.com/139

- Episode #158 - All about my postpartum journey: https://elizabethmccravy.com/157

- Episode #148 - Colin’s Birth Story: https://elizabethmccravy.com/colins-birth-story/

Are we connected on Instagram? I’d love to hear what you think of this episode and anything else you’d love to hear covered on the podcast! https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

And as always, please share this episode with a friend who you think would benefit! Thanks for being here!

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

157: My Postpartum Journey (+ Tips for Surviving and Thriving in the Early Days of Motherhood) Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

Let’s chat like friends over coffee as I share parts of my postpartum journey as a first time mama, with plenty of tips and takeaways throughout! A few months ago, you heard Colin’s birth story on the podcast (episode #148), and you guys LOVED it. Thank you for all the kind messages and feedback on it. If it was impactful to you in some way, I’m grateful! That was my prayer in sharing all of it.

And now, I want to share about my postpartum journey! I’m sharing what those early days and weeks were like with a newborn. We’re talking about things like family visits, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, relationship with your spouse, exercise, postpartum healing, and so much more. And, if you’re not a new or expecting mama, I’ll also be sharing some ways you can help and offer grace to the new mama in your life.

It’s easy to forget what those early days are like with a newborn. I definitely have forgotten plenty already! But, I outlined the majority of this episode when Colin was 3 months old, while things were very fresh! And now I’m recording it when he’s almost 6 months old. I’ll be focusing on those EARLY days, and not so much life right now. I’ll save that for another episode.

I want to acknowledge that everyone’s situation is so incredibly different, and I am sharing from the lens of my own experience, which is likely different from yours. Some of the topics I talk about on this episode are sensitive ones and we all have our own opinions and experiences. I hope you’ll have grace for me as I try to vulnerably share my experience (and offer advice) the best I can! If you want more postpartum and motherhood episodes, please do let me know. You can message me anytime on Instagram @elizabethmccravy. And let me know what you think of this episode by sending me a message or writing a review!

All links I mention are linked in the full shownotes here: http://elizabethmccravy.com/157 (plus, some additional book and clothing recs that I don’t mention in the audio!)

Connect with me on Instagram at 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

156: Has Your Instagram Story Reach Totally Tanked? Try These 8 Hacks to Increase Your Views and Engagement Right Now! Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

I know I’m not alone in this, but this winter, my Instagram story views totally tanked for a bit. As in less than 1% of my followers were seeing my stories. Things felt so quiet that I could hear the crickets! It was frustrating, confusing, and made me feel very unmotivated to share. Instead of sulking about it and being mad at Instagram, I considered: Is what I’m posting just not engaging? And then also, what strategies can I try to fix this?!

So, I did some things differently. I tried all sorts of things, and I want to share with you today what worked! So if your story views aren’t where you’d like them to be, this episode is for you. Also worth noting: the majority of these tips are based on my personal experience with the app so not necessarily any hard “research” or things heard directly from Instagram. It’s just what I’ve WATCHED work. I hope these will help you like they did me!

To get the full show notes head to https://elizabethmccravy.com/156

Come engage with me on Instagram and tell me what you think of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

Shop website templates at https://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

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

155: 8 Proven Ways to Make More Money Today in Your Service Business (Part Two) Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

Here’s part TWO of ways to make more money in your service business. I hope you enjoyed part one because we are taking it deeper here with even more tips. ’m sharing 4 more ways that you can make more money in your business as a service provider.

And, good news: I’m focusing on ways you can make more money without abrutively changing your biz model, without adding products, and without reinventing the wheel. I’d highly encourage you to take notes on this one! When there’s a tip that you think will work in your business, jot it down, and do it after! You’ve got this.

And, exciting news… Booked Out Designer is open right now for enrollment through 2/11! If you’re a designer who wants to earn more money, book more clients, and streamline your processes — you need to join me in this program. Booked Out Designer is more than just a course. It’s a 90 lesson transformational course AND coaching from me AND coaching from a certified life coach AND a supportive Facebook community of other designers. This program will help you change your business for the better or start your design business wayyyyy ahead of the game. Get info at https://elizabethmccravy.com/bod and join today!

If you’re not a designer but you’re looking for coaching + courses from me, listen to this episode for some deets on stuff coming in 2022. :)

Links mentioned in this episode:

Get the full shownotes at https://elizabethmccravy.com/155

Get info on Booked Out Designer at https://elizabethmccravy.com/bod

Connect on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/