Little Better: Cultivating human connection in business

This week’s podcast episode unlocks a key to being successful in business that you may not have heard before: cultivate human connection. How? Listen in to discover more!

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Do you struggle with motivation as a small business owner?

Maybe you find it hard to sell your products with conviction?

Or perhaps you find yourself scrolling social media, because that’s the easiest way to get what feels like connection?

I want to offer one guiding principle to help with all those questions – and many more.

The answer? Cultivate human connection.

With the vast majority of businesses now doing most of their business online, and that tricksy little global pandemic, many of us are craving human connection.

Rather than going to an office, doing errands in small communities, and having close-knit friends and neighbours, we’re on t’internet pretty often. This is fairly tough for us primates, who like eye contact and scent and loads of other biological factors to feel trust.

It’s no surprise we turn to social media for a quick fix. It’s not the same, but it kind of meets the craving. It doesn’t fully satisfy it, though.

When you take the time to cultivate connection with humans (and sometimes pets), it recalibrates your brain. So spending quality time with family and friends outside your business will help your business, because you’ll feel more connected.

It will also help you to feel motivated and sell more, in the background.

But here are some specific ways to cultivate human connection for your business.

To build up motivation:

You need to have a business squad.

I’m a big believer in finding the right support for you in business. That’s not necessarily your closest family or friends – unless you’re really lucky!

Instead, boost your motivation by cultivating connection with business besties – people who get what you’re doing, can cheer you on, and support your success.

I created the Better Business Collective for this exact purpose.

To find confidence when selling:

Cultivating human connection in your marketing makes it easier to sell, no matter what you’re selling.

See your customers as real humans, with real aspirations and needs and wants and problems. Be human, invite in their humanity too.

Show your human self, or at least content with humans in.

Rather than getting stuck in “buy my thing”, step back and consider what it gives another human in their everyday experience.

This will give you language and confidence to step up and share, and I promise it will feel good, too!

So go and book a coffee date with a friend, hug your kids or pets, and start finding that business squad.

Episode 8: Email Marketing For Makers And Creatives

Why you need to consider email marketing if you have an online shop

Email marketing converts at 40% higher than social media marketing. That means you’re 40% more likely – on average – to get a sale from the time, effort, and money you put into it.

You can build a loyal, repeat customer base with email.

AND you cultivate a database and connection with customers that you own – no algorithms or third parties to contend with.

If you’re intrigued about email marketing, make sure you check out The Better Business Collective, where I teach email marketing and provide dozens of template emails for you to send.

And take a look at these resources, too:

Episode 4: 5 Unconventional Ways To Improve Your Marketing

Better Business Podcast by Jenny Pace. Image reads: Successful marketing is 80% energy and 20% action. Episode 4.

Struggling with your marketing mojo? Try these tips!

These days, marketing is about content and connection: sharing ideas and inspiration with people who feel the same way and like what you’re about, plus – of course – sharing those for-sale creations you’ve made. Today I want to share five unconventional marketing tips that you might not have considered before to step things up a level.

These days, marketing is about content and connection: sharing ideas and inspiration with people who feel the same way and like what you’re about, plus – of course – sharing those for-sale creations you’ve made.

So there’s a whole load of content to create, photographs to take, videos to play with, captions to write. There can be a lot to learn about making a content plan, figuring out your key messages, and figuring out hashtags and scheduling apps.

What would you say if I told you that successful marketing is about 80% mindset and energy?

Even before you start creating and taking all that action, having your head and heart lined up and your energy in a good place can make alllllll the difference.

So today I’m not sharing tips for creating killer content or hacks for hastags or Reels.

Instead, my unconventional wisdom is to upgrade your marketing energy.

How do we do that? Well, we need to tap into the power of your chakra system and combine the physical, emotional, and psychological energy you’re bringing to the table.

To transform your marketing energy, I recommend focusing on your throat chakra – that’s the area near your vocal chords, but also links to your shoulders, jaw, nose and ears.

This chakra represents (in Western modern and Jungian interpretations) our ability to express ourselves and our ability to receive (it’s where we swallow and absorb nutrients) – which are deeply related to marketing our businesses.

You throat chakra might be out of alignment, overworked or underworked. If that’s the case, you might find yourself with a lump in your throat when you think about your business or a specific project, or you might be prone to sore throats, colds and coughs. You might find that you hold a lot of tension in your jaw or your shoulders – holding things in, or tensing up against potential threats. You might even find you have more dental issues!

These are all ways your subconscious mind manifests your mental blocks in your body, and vice versa.

When you’re not blocked, you’ll find you’re able to express yourself easily, through words, actions and creativity. You’ll find yourself wanting to share your ideas and inspiration! You’ll also find it easier to receive good things, whether that’s sales, money, compliments, good feedback, good news, and good ideas.

So how can we realign your throat chakra, clear those unhelpful thoughts, and improve your marketing energy?

Here are my favourite unconventional marketing tips:

1. Pay attention to your throat chakra

Notice, right now, how you’re feeling in that area of your body. Does it feel tight, over-stretched, blocked? Or are you feeling fairly comfortable and able to receive?

You might find that certain activities have you tensing your jaw more than others – spot where you might need more support.

2. Drink hot lemon (and honey)

This home remedy for sore throats is also a great first step in caring for your throat chakra. Grab some lemons and start each day with a healing and opening drink of hot lemon juice in hot water. (I use half a lemon for an average mug.)

If you’re in need of soothing, or are struggling to receive, add a little honey. It’ll heal any raspy voices and ease those good vibes.

3. Play some chakra-healing music

Yogic traditions typically have chants to instill specific qualities in the different chakras. There are also powerful practices in using healing bowl music to do the same. When I’m feeling stuck or tense in my throat, I use healing music designed specifically for the throat chakra on the Insight Timer app. It’s easy to put on in the background while I’m working, or while I’m relaxing or falling asleep.

4. Use chakra-opening essential oils

Spearmint, chamomile, and even eucalyptus are great essential oils to use when you’re feeling stuck in your marketing. You can pop them in a diffuser with water or a base oil, use them in a spray, or use a roll-on like this one by Eve & Keel on your pulse points. I like to put it on my wrists and behind my ears. Don’t forget to breathe deeply!

5. Choose a mantra or affirmation, and say it aloud

Having a positive mantra or affirmation can help to re-program your subconscious thoughts and beliefs, and instills a new belief instead. I recommend choosing one and using it daily for a week or two. Pop it somewhere you can see it, and, crucially, say it out loud. Ultimately, you shift your throat chakra energy when you speak truth, so actually saying your affirmation to yourself will help you to practice sharing positive things and receiving positivity in return.

Try: Marketing my business is creative, fun, and offers endless opportunities for success.

You could also sing, dance, shake off your blocks, double down on your flossing habit, practice yoga, and meditate to help realign your chakras and shift your energy.

Okay, I told you this was going to be unconventional…

I hope you’ve found these unconventional marketing tips helpful!

Nothing removes the need for content creation and putting in some work to marketing your business (and you might like my 30 Email Subject Lines cheat sheet to get going with email marketing). But clearing out unconscious energy and old beliefs can really get things moving!

What do you think? Is there anything you think you might try?

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Enter The Forge

Life's too damn short to chase someone else's definition of success. I'm here to give you the courage and tools to forge your own path.