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:

024: 8 Ways to Find Your First Paying Clients (and How I Got Mine!) Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

You guys have been asking for this episode, and now here it is! We’re talking all about how to land your first paying clients in your business, and I’m sharing all the details of where my very first clients originated from. If you’re just starting out, this episode will prepare you to be a lead generating machine! And, if you’ve been in business a while, but are struggling to book clients, then this will be a refresh of new places to look.

We’re getting very practical, as usual, and you’ll learn a lot about lead generation! All of the methods I’m sharing are ways I’ve actually landed clients myself. (Not all of them first clients, but all of them have been lead generators for me at some point.)

Getting your first clients is HARD. When you’re new and you don’t have testimonials, references or a portfolio yet, it makes things tougher. So, get ready to book more clients as you explore these 8 ways to find them! Plus, one BONUS way!

Episode Highlights:

- My thoughts on freelancer websites, such as UpWork (and why these sites are so controversial)

- Why you feel intimidated as a new business owner telling your friends about it, and how to get past it

- How to network for free and meet your potential clients

- How to find clients in Facebook groups the RIGHT way

- How to use social media to book clients — even with a low following

- The best way to be proactive when finding new clients

- Why I believe in praying for my clients and future clients

- Exactly where all my early clients came from

Get the full show notes for this episode: https://elizabethmccravy.com/24

Follow along on Instagram: http://instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

Visit the main 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

023: Morning Journal Prompts to Start Your Day With Intention Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

Do you like to journal? Or, maybe you hate it? No matter where you land, I think you’ll enjoy these journaling prompts I’m sharing today. I start out (almost) every day by answering these 10 questions in my journal. Some of them I made up, some I got from mentors in my life, and all of them have been refined over time to be the best possible list of questions.

These are the questions that work for me, and today I’m sharing them with you so you can develop your own fast and easy morning journaling routine! Starting my day with this questions changes my mood and helps me to not let the day happen “to me”, but instead be completely in charge of my day, my emotions, and my schedule.

I try to journal every day as part of my morning routine, but I definitely miss PLENTY of days and am far from perfect at this. When I do start my day with pen to paper using these journal prompts, I feel focused, I calm my anxieties about any stressors in the day, and I feel gratitude.

The questions are short, simple, and easy. Doing this only takes up one page in my tiny journal every morning, but has a huge impact on my emotional health and focus. So, if you’re thinking “10 questions… I don’t have time for 10 questions!!” — you can make this work. I promise! So, tune in now to get the 10 questions that are going to totally transform your day!

Episode Highlights:

- A little bit about my morning routine

- My favorite question to ask myself that allows me to be really TANGIBLE with my goals

- How to practice gratitude first thing in the morning

- How to think ahead so that you control your day versus your day happening to you

- How to come up with a daily affirmation and why this matters

Get the free download with a printable of these 10 questions here: http://elizabethmccravy.com/23download

Use this freebie to print out the questions and keep them in your journal for the easiest possible use!

Get the show notes for this episode: http://elizabethmccravy.com/23download

Follow along on Instagram: http://instagram.com/elizabethmccravy/

Visit the main 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

022: Top Strategies to Effectively Use Testimonials on Your Website and Marketing Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

You shouldn’t just throw your testimonials on your website on a testimonials page and be done with it. No, no, no! There is a strategist way to show your testimonials on your website and marketing. In this episode, we cover the WHERE of using your testimonials — ideas to get the most reach, where to use them, and how to do it really well.

This is our third episode specifically about testimonials. I’ve done 3 episodes on this, because testimonials are crazy important and will be one of your most powerful marketing tools when done right. Do exceptional work, ask clients for feedback, curate the testimonials, and then USE THEM in your marketing!

Episode Highlights:

- 6 places that you should be displaying your testimonials

- The do’s and don’ts of a “testimonial page” on your website and why I used to not like these pages

- Which pages of your website should have testimonials

- How to blog about your client’s projects to create more content

- How testimonials can help with conversions on your checkout page

- How to do testimonials on social media in a creative and “behind the scenes” way

- Why pull quotes are the queen bee of testimonials

- How to keep it interesting by sharing testimonials in a variety of display ways

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

- Laurin Seiden’s Project: https://elizabethmccravy.com/laurin-seiden/

- Laurin Seiden’s Testimonials Page: http://laurinseiden.com/testimonials

- Testimonials Part 1: How to Get Powerful Testimonials for Your Business: https://elizabethmccravy.com/19

- Testimonials Part 2: Is it ok to edit my client’s testimonials?: https://elizabethmccravy.com/20

- ThriveCart: https://elizabethmccravy.com/thrivecart

Catch the other testimonial episodes:

- Testimonials Part 1: How to Get Powerful Testimonials for Your Business: https://elizabethmccravy.com/19

- Testimonials Part 2: Is it ok to edit my client’s testimonials?: https://elizabethmccravy.com/20

Visit Elizabeth’s website: http://elizabethmccravy.com

Shop website templates: http://elizabethmccravy.com/shop

Connect on Instagram: https://insta

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

021: 3 Copywriting Mistakes That Are Making People Leave Your Website (And How to Fix Them!) Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

Once your website page loads, people form an opinion of it in .05 seconds. Yep, that’s REALLY short. And, those opinions might be leading viewers to exit your site.

Your website IS your business’ digital home, and for online-based businesses like myself, it is your business’ ONLY home. This matters. So, in this episode I’m diving into why people might not want to stay on your website. We are focusing on the copywriting mistakes you might be making that make people click the exit button.

And, I’m not just telling you the mistakes, I’m offering solutions too! So, let’s explore how we can improve your website copy to keep people engaged.

Episode Highlights:

- “If you confuse, you’ll lose.” - why clarity matters on your website

- Questions to ask so that you can make it clear what problems you solve

- How to craft a brand statement

- Examples of a brand statement before and after

- How most people are reading your website

- Why less is more when it comes to the words on your website

- The information you MUST HAVE on your website as a local business

- How missing “key information” hurts your website’s usability

Get the links mentioned in this episode by heading to the show notes here: https://elizabethmccravy.com/21

Shownotes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/21

Main Website: https://elizabethmccravy.com/

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://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

020: Is It Ok To Edit My Client’s Testimonials? The Answer Might Surprise You! Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

If you’ve ever wondered “How much is too much editing?” when it comes to your testimonials, then this is your episode! This is such a strange topic because there’s no official guide book to this sort of thing anywhere. It’s very much uncharted territory.

In this episode we explore questions like: What if the review has a typo? What if the grammar just doesn’t make sense? Can I change up the wording a little bit?

It can feel really confusing figuring out where to draw the line when you use testimonials from past clients, I get it. This episode will guide you to clarity.

I dive into 8 common changes people might want to make to a testimonial, and I tell you if it’s ok to change or totally not ok.

Episode Highlights:

- Answering the big question of “Can I do a little editing to my client’s testimonials?”

- What’s totally NOT ethical when it comes to getting testimonials from clients

- What to do when your client misspells something or uses bad grammar in their testimonial

- When the testimonial doesn’t make sense as written, how to fix it

- What’s the deal with reordering sentences or cutting things out of a testimonial, is that ok?

- When you want to change “she” to your own name for a pull quote

- How to ask permission to make changes so that you’re always in the clear

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

- Listen to last week’s episode about testimonials: https://elizabethmccravy.com/19

- Get the show notes: https://elizabethmccravy.com/20

- See testimonials on Elizabeth’s website as examples: https://elizabethmccravy.com/

- Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://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

019: How to Get Powerful Testimonials for Your Service Business (What to Ask and How to Ask It!) Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

I would argue that testimonials are one of the most POWERFUL marketing tools for your business. We live in a world that runs on reviews, and positive feedback from someone else (even if we don’t personally know them) can make a HUGE difference in whether or not we buy something. And, let’s be real, your past customers aren’t going to just send you a testimonial just because. They’ve got their own life and stuff going on! So, you’ve got to ask them and ASK THEM WELL.

In this episode, I’m teaching you exactly how I ask my clients for testimonials. We dive into what to say, how to say it, and some dos and don’ts along the way. I’ve been asking for testimonials this way for about 2 years now, and it totally works!

So, if you’re ready to have raving reviews for your business, this episode is FOR YOU. Get excited to have some clear strategies to implement today!

Episode Highlights:

- 3 reasons why testimonials are game changer for your business

- Why you should never just email your past client “asking for a testimonial”

- How to create an easy system to ask for feedback

- Exact questions you should be asking your past clients in order to get answers you’ll actually want to share

- REAL reviews from some of my clients as examples of how powerful reviews can be when you do good work and ask good questions

- The most important question style you should be asking

- How to get clients to put the review on other spots like Facebook, Wedding Wire, Google, etc.

- How to ask for construction criticism and actually utilize it for your own good

- Why getting permission to use a review matters

Stay tuned next week for even more content on testimonials!

Links Mentioned in Episode:

- Get 30% off + a free trial of Dubsado with the code “ELIZABETH30”

- See reviews on my website

- Get the full show notes

- Come hang out on Instagram!

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

018: How to Automate and Systematize Your Service-Based Business Jun 18, 2019

Show notes

Are you ready to work smarter not harder and give your clients an exceptional and consistent experience? Then, oh boy, do I have the tools and tips for you!

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 ways I automate and systematize my graphic design business, and exactly how you can do it too.

This episode is brought to you by my friends at Dubsado. You guys have probably heard me talk about Dubsado like a thousand times on social media, my blog, and already plenty on this podcast. I talk about it so much because IT WORKS. The 1:1 design work side of my business is run on Dubsado. Wondering what Dubsado is? It’s a CRM meaning “customer relationship management” system and they help you run your business with less running.

I use Dubsado to do things like automate emails to my clients and potential clients, send contracts and invoices, create proposals, send questionnaires, manage my project calendar and SO MUCH MORE. I am so grateful that a friend introduced me to Dubsado years ago because it changed the way I run my business and allowed me to SCALE in a way I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

I want you to try out Dubsado and see for yourself. So, we’ve got a special offer for you! Head to elizabethmccravy.com/dubsado or use the code ELIZABETH30 at checkout to get 30% off your first month or year of Dubsado. You’ll also receive a free trial where you can try out Dubsado with up to 3 projects for absolutely FREE. You’ve got nothing to lose! Click here to try it out for yourself!

Episode Highlights:

- How automation and systems help you create a BETTER experience for your clients

- The exact system and automation I use for when a new client reaches out to me

- How automated emails will set you apart from the crowd

- How to be quick and effective when sending over details after a potential client call

- How rocky my lead follow up process was before Dubsado (#embarrassing)

- How I automate payment reminders to clients so I can focus on doing the work and not collecting the money

- How email templates will help you write something really well ONCE and then reuse the best of the best responses

- What you need to do to start making email templates for your business today

- Feedback from my actual clients on how systems make for a better client experience

- Details on how to save big on Dubsado and try it out for free

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

- Get 30% off Dubsado + a free trial with the code “ELIZABETH30”

- See the contact form on my website as an example

- Get my FREE Brand Strategy Workbook

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

017. 4 Mistakes I Made Early on in My Business (and What I Wish I Would’ve Known Instead) Jun 11, 2019

Show notes

We are talking about a fun topic — business mistakes. Woohoo! This episode is definitely NOT a highlight reel, and I’m actually getting quite vulnerable sharing some of the not so fun stuff. I’m sharing 4 lessons I learned my first year as an entrepreneur.

Instead of just showing you the wins in my business, I want to show you the mistakes. I haven’t been in business that long, and I’ve already learned so much from those mistakes I made in my first year. I want to share my mistakes with you so that you can learn from my mistakes AND know that you’re not alone if you’ve made some of the same ones. 4 lessons I learned my first year as an entrepreneur. Here are some mistakes to avoid, so you can survive your first year as a small business owner.

While I do call these things “mistakes”, it’s a different feeling than the regretful type of mistake. I’m super happy that my business has unfolded the way it has. But, things would have gone a lot smoother if I had realized some key things sooner. I believe that there are opportunities inside of every failure. If you let yourself learn from your mistakes without holding resentment and without beating yourself up, you can find those "secret opportunities" that lead to big-time growth! I hope you can learn from these mistakes too!

Here are big mistakes to avoid, so you can survive your first year as a small business owner!

Episode Highlights:

- 4 big mistakes I made my first year of business and what I wish I would’ve done instead

- The big mistake I made when naming my business the first time around

- The thing I used to hide and blend in early on

- How my first product launch was a complete failure

- How my scarcity mindset affected my faith and relationships

- Two bad client experiences I had and why they were really my fault

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

- Get the show notes for this episode!

- Get my FREE business naming guide!

- The blog post about my big name change

- Elizabeth’s website

- Follow Elizabeth on Instagram

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

016. 10 Questions You’re Asking About Personal Brand Photoshoots Jun 04, 2019

Show notes

We’re following up on last week’s episode and diving into YOUR questions about branding photo shoots. We’re talking about nerves in front of the camera, how to add more personality to your images, when and where to share them and so much more. Ready to get incredible images for your business? This episode is for YOU!

These are all questions you sent in on Instagram or email, and I’m so excited to get to answer them, and even give you guys some shout outs!

Episode Highlights:

- 7 ways to be more confidence in front of the camera

- The importance of choosing a location you’ll be comfortable in

- The 3 types of images many people regret not getting

- The must-have photo types for your social media and website

- How to find a photographer that will help you plan everything

- How many photos of yourself should you be sharing on Instagram

- How to get the most mileage out of a single photo shoot

- What to do if you can’t afford a photographer right now

- Answering the question of if you need personal branding in the corporate world

- How to decide what to wear when you don’t have brand colors yet

- How to add personality to your images so they aren’t so boring

Links Mentioned in Episode:

- Get the show notes and blog post for this episode

- See examples of photoshoot images

- Visit Elizabeth’s website

- Follow along with Elizabeth on Instagram

- Leave a review for the show on iTunes!

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

015. How to Prepare For an Incredible Personal Brand Photoshoot May 28, 2019

Show notes

Today we are talking all about PHOTOSHOOTS! Some of you might be thinking “Ugh, I hate having my photo taken and therefore, would like to skip this episode.” And some of you might be thinking “Bring it on!! I’m so sick of using so many stock photos for my business.” Wherever you fall, get excited because this episode shares exactly how to prepare for a brand photoshoot.

If you feel frustrated or overwhelmed when picking photos to use in your business, I’ve been there! I’ve been the person who has zero good headshots and a website FULL of free stock photos with nothing original to share on Instagram. Personal branding photoshoots have really transformed the way I’m able to market my business.

In this episode, I give you my blueprint for planning your photoshoot. We cover how to pick your photographer, creating a shot list, picking props, choosing the location, and figuring out what to wear.

Get ready to feel camera-confident (and online business confident) because you’re going to have photos that represent YOU!

Episode Highlights:

- The style of photography to look for when deciding who to work with

- The number of photoshoots I’ve had for my business (it’s way less than you would think!)

- How to decide exactly what images you need to get before stepping into your photoshoot

- How I support my 1:1 clients during their branding photoshoots

- Examples of props to make your photoshoot interesting and unique to your business

- Key things to look for in a photoshoot location

- What to AVOID wearing for your photoshoot so that you’ll look and feel your very best

- How to totally transform an outfit without a wardrobe change

Links Mentioned in Episode:

- Get the show notes for this episode

- See examples of photoshoot images in the show notes!

- Visit Elizabeth’s website

- Get my FREE No Fuss Instagram Planning Guide

- Follow along with Elizabeth on Instagram

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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