But here's the truth: marketing is non-negotiable. It’s when you are busy that you need marketing the most. Marketing is the lifeblood of our businesses, the fuel that keeps our business not only running but growing. Without it, our business will become stagnant while we watch our competitors race ahead.

I recently had a sorority sister from college reach out to me, seeking advice on marketing for her new business venture. Like many small business owners just starting out, she was feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of marketing her business effectively without breaking the bank. So, I put myself in her shoes and asked, “If I were starting from scratch with a limited budget, where would I invest my money to get the biggest bang for my buck?”

The sales funnel is a model that represents the journey a potential customer takes from being just a visitor to your website to becoming a customer. It is divided into stages that include awareness, interest, decision, and action. At the top of the funnel, the focus is on attracting potential customers and creating awareness about the product or service. As the customers move down the funnel, they develop an interest, make a decision to purchase, and finally take action by completing a purchase.

Once you understand a few basics, Canva will be very easy for you to use and it will quickly become your “go-to” tool for creating anything! I am so passionate about Canva, that you’ll often hear me state that learning to use Canva is one of the best decisions you can make for your business.

Are you feeling a bit lost in the marketing maze? Trust me, I've been there. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our brand can flounder. And, often times the struggle lies not in the quality of our products or services, but rather in how we articulate our brand message. Sometimes our brand messaging just doesn't seem to hit the mark. The key is identifying the problem as quickly as possible. Here are five unmistakable signs that your brand messaging might be in need of a little fine-tuning.

Imagine having a brand message so clear and concise that it effortlessly guides your content creation efforts – not just once but for months to come! With a well-defined brand message you can confidently communicate your value proposition everywhere for years, without the need for constant reinvention.