Author Archives: Kim Clark

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Why They Aren’t Your Customers

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A business owner is always on a mission to attract potential new customers, to introduce them to the company’s products and/or services and pique their interest by helping them to envision how using one (or more) of your offerings will make some aspect of their life or work better—-solve a problem, save time or money, achieve a goal, or enhance the company brand, for example.

You are aware that the answer to most sales appeals is “no;” but have you ever unpacked the deal-breakers that cause prospects to turn you down? Respectfully, I suggest that you explore this uncomfortable question. What you learn may surprise you, but I’ll wager that it will not discourage you, even if you discover a lapse that you should have anticipated. Being all things to all potential buyers is not a goal for the vast majority of business entities. If you’ve made a couple of mistakes, you’ll have a chance to fix things. As for non-customers, they can be grouped into four categories that describe their relationship with your brand:

  • Prospects who are unaware of your company, service, or product and may also be unaware of your product or service category.
  • Prospects who are aware of your company and its offerings, but they are uncertain that your service or product is an effective solution for their needs.
  • Prospects who are aware of the category of services or products that you provide, but your company is unknown to them.
  • Prospects who are satisfied with the services or products provided by a competitor company and they are not motivated to change.

Every now and again, fortune will smile and a non-customer will decide to investigate your online marketing funnel and become an active prospect. This individual could enter into active engagement and request information that leads to a chat with you. As you answer questions and position your solution as a preferable alternative to what s/he uses now, you may spark a level of trust and confidence that convinces the prospect that there is something better—and that better mousetrap could be your product or service. Make the most of what could be a good opportunity and listen for cues that subtly reveal a prospect’s niggling dissatisfaction that, with skillful handling, could blow up to become the motivation to abandon ship and buy from you.

Engagement

The most immediate way to assess a prospect’s feelings is by noting the level of engagement s/he demonstrates. A serious prospect will actively participate in discussions with you, either directly in conversation or by way of interactions with your online sales funnel. S/he will make comments, ask questions and solicit recommendations for how to use the product or service in specific situations. Serious prospects want to understand how your product or service will perform; will the results and outcomes justify the purchase? Will your product or service address specific pain points, solve a formidable challenge, or help to achieve an important goal? These prospects will be engaged with you every step of the way. Their responsiveness is typically swift; they are happy to follow-up on emails or to take meetings.

By contrast, prospects who are merely browsing are not prepared to become a paying customer anytime soon. They may need to obtain the support of higher-ups in their organization; they might be waiting for budget confirmation and timing. Prospects who are just looking around are inclined to be casual about their communication with you or your team. They might be motivated by curiosity to comparison shop; or maybe there’s a missing element in what they’re using now, something that was not a deal-breaker when they bought from your competitor. So, your commitment phobic prospect will occasionally search for a product or service that could become a potential replacement and mentally entertain a comparison. But will the prospect change horses?

For this prospect, there is no rush; s/he might take days or weeks to respond to your follow-up attempt. Casual prospects may postpone meetings without requesting a reschedule date; the feedback they give is likely to be vague and noncommittal. If you’re chasing someone for a response, or repeatedly trying to reestablish contact, it’s almost certainly indication that s/he isn’t fully invested in the conversation—or, worse, they’re simply not that interested. Ask yourself: which prospects make an effort to stay engaged with you and which respond only when you reach out—if that? When it’s the latter, you may find that the prospect is even more unreliable than they let on.

Urgency

Prospects with an immediate need for your product or service are usually far more likely to convert. They’ll have a specific problem that requires timely attention and they’ll make that clear early on in your interactions. Whether they’re on a tight timeline or under pressure to resolve a pressing business issue, serious prospects will express a desire to move quickly. You might get questions such as, “How soon can we start?” or “We’d like to get a solution in place by X date.” These statements indicate that the prospect is motivated and ready to move forward and make a purchase.

By contrast, a prospect who is merely browsing will not exhibit urgency. S/he might express interest, but when it’s time to take the next step, there will be hesitation. Commitment phobic prospects push timelines into the future or claim that they need more time to think things over. The lack of urgency may signal that the prospect isn’t prioritizing the purchase or, worse, that there is no plan to move forward. As a rule, when prospects are serious, their enthusiastic and consistent engagement communicates that they are eager to do the deal. If you detect only lukewarm interest, expect that prospect to disappoint you.

Decision-maker

One of the most frustrating experiences in sales is trying to mid-wife a buyer’s journey with a prospect whom you discover doesn’t have the authority to make purchasing decisions. Serious prospects usually have the power to buy, or they’re closely connected to the one who does. If your prospect must refer decisions to higher-ups, or is unclear about who will make the final call, this could be a red flag.

Early in your conversations, smart Freelancers ask the prospect questions about their decision-making process, such as “Who else will be involved in the decision?” or “What steps do we need to go through for final approval?” It’s critical to know if the person with whom you’re communicating has sole authority to make the buy, or if s/he has one vote on a decision team of five people, for example. Or maybe your prospect is doing the legwork for the sale because the person(s) who can green light the sale don’t like getting directly involved in sales (it happens). Whatever the protocol the prospect’s company follows, if s/he is serious, that person will give you accurate info about the purchase approval process and will fill you in on the internal steps and timelines needed to make a decision.

Uncommitted prospects, on the other hand, tend to be ambiguous, if not evasive, about who holds the decision-making power. If the prospect repeatedly tells you s/he needs to consult someone else about the sale, but never seems to move the process forward, that individual is most likely wasting your time. Without clear authority or a transparent decision-making process, it will be difficult to determine when, or if, the sale will be approved.

Moving forward

A serious prospect will move through your sales funnel with consistency and purpose. S/he will ask questions, including those intended to obtain information on the service or product delivery and implementation timelines and pricing specifics. Even if discussions and negotiations take time, there will be clear forward momentum.

Commitment phobic prospects, as you might guess, tend to stall. It’s possible that what appears to be genuine interest is demonstrated early on as the prospect engages in preliminary discussions. But when it’s time to progress to more concrete steps—such as proposing a delivery and implementation timeline, or reviewing a proposal—you find that communication becomes opaque and slows down, it does not bode well for the possibility of consummating the sale. This stalling tactic is manipulative as it traps you in uncertainty and denies you from good faith business practice. Such prospects may be unable to guarantee an adequate budget, or they may be in serious negotiation with another vendor and merely using you as a bargaining chip or a Plan B option. You are advised to be circumspect.

It’s important to recognize the potential significance of persistent delays and face up to the possibility that the prospect may not be willing and able to make a decision. If the prospect habitually postpones meetings, this could surely indicate that this individual is unreliable, probably because the authority to make the purchase is not in hand. Do yourself a favor and monitor how quickly and smoothly prospects move from one step to the next in your sales funnel; any unusual delays are worth questioning.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © MoustacheGirl for Getty Images

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Predictions: Which Freelance Skills Will Be Most Valued In 2027?

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As we enter Fiscal Year 2027, demand for the expertise, experience, energy and enthusiasm that Freelance professionals bring to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations around the world continues on an upward trend. Hiring rates of Freelance professionals climbed 44% above the average demand predicted by leading Freelance labor platforms. The market is projected to grow from $8.9 billion in 2026 to $21.97 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.32%.

To state the obvious, the steady growth of Freelance labor has largely been fueled by the digital revolution, that has touched all aspects of how we live and work. Artificial Intelligence is the center of the universe now, generating a big demand for Freelance talent. In fact, there is a shortage of talent that possesses the necessary capability to evaluate AI readiness assessment, has a command of AI development expertise or machine learning engineering, or owns the desired fluency in prompt engineering. Other technology sectors that remain a magnet for Freelance talent are programming, from mobile app to software and web development, plus user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) specialists, cybersecurity and sustainability experts. These lucrative niches are predicted by leading Freelance labor sources to reach a CAGR of 16.32% during 2026 – 2031.

Niche to watch: supply chain and logistics

Another industry that has the potential to provide a strong demand for Freelance talent is the supply chain sector, which is expected to play a prominent role in hiring rates of independent labor in FY 2027. The global supply chain industry is entering a period of growth in FY 2027. After several years of sluggish hiring, companies are again expanding their capabilities across logistics, procurement, planning and manufacturing. Hiring managers are especially interested in Freelance professionals who have strong data analytics proficiency and environmental sustainability skills, along with sustainability and logistics experience that includes cross-functional expertise.45% of supply chain and logistics companies currently work with Freelance talent.

The quick acceptance and implementation of AI powered digital tools have enabled the use of robotics and workflow streamlining, for example, but there is an AI talent gap in the supply chain work force. These urgencies have compelled industry decision-makers to take advantage of the global, scalable, agile workforce available by way of the Freelance talent pool, which also delivers a cost-savings of 30% – 40% vs. full-time employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% growth in supply chain management jobs through 2030 .

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © The New York Times/ Federico Rios Escobar. The container ship ZIM Newark (Germany) sails through the Panama Canal in July 2024

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10 Titles: Good Business Reads for Summer 2026

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The U. S. Chamber of Commerce highly recommends that owners of businesses of any size, from single owner /employee entities to chief executives of global enterprises that employees thousands, should regularly undertake the professional development activity known as reading. In particular, how-to entrepreneurial business books contain a wealth of knowledge and actionable advice that’s supported by the author’s examples of hands-on business leadership experience, along with encouragement and guidance to inspire you. Reading presents opportunities to learn from others’ successes and disappointments; however, in the age of information overload, it can be difficult to make time for reading while simultaneously juggling the demands of operating a business—sometimes on your own.

To make it easier for Freelancers and other business leaders to find books that grab your interest, I’ve curated a list of business reading possibilities. The books have been well-received in the business sector but they are only suggestions, and intended to encourage you to consider subjects that you’d like to explore. Below are recommendations for curating a reading list that will support your knowledge building objectives:

  • Choose topics that interest you. You may need to address a challenge for which you’d like to obtain some insight. A subject or author may pique your interest. There are many books to choose from within the business category; the prospect of taking a deep dive into a topic that tempts you will supply ample motivation to start reading.
  • Schedule time to read.  Similar to reserving a block of time that will be devoted to an important task, dedicating time for reading reinforces its value. Your reading sessions can be longer or shorter; for instance, you can allot mini-blocks of time to give yourself brief but focused reading sessions at the beginning and end of your day. You can create a reading habit that quickly becomes part of your routine and motivates you to find more books to read.
  • Incorporate audiobooks and podcasts. Listening to podcasts and audiobooks allows you to learn while working out, commuting, doing laundry, or tackling other routine tasks.
  • Abandon books that aren’t resonating. If the author’s message or writing style leave you flat, move on to one that captures your attention as it provides the lessons you’re looking for.
  1. Real Time Leadership (David Noble and Carol Kauffman, February 2023)

The best leaders are able to assess pivotal, potentially game-changing situations when the outcome matters most and respond in the most effective way possible to move forward—or not. Authors David Noble and Carol Kauffman are best-in-class leadership coaches; they advise that the most difficult aspect of leadership occurs when you must control the inevitable high-risk, high stakes challenge. Whether you’re faced with a split-second decision, when your business is reeling, or could be soon, and your mind is racing to determine the best strategy to navigate business-critical long-term circumstances. An effective leader must be able to step up, seize the reins and guide the organization to a successful landing. Noble and Kauffman show you how their innovative leadership development framework trains you to excel at tactics that slow down high-stakes situations before they speed you up and pull you under like a rip tide. Instead, you’ll learn to confront and master the moment, so that you can calmly generate response options and quickly evaluate those options before acting.

2. The Science of Scaling (Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Blake Erickson, July 2025)

Are you generating only modest annual growth in your business, frustrated and wondering why a pathway to scale your entity seems out of reach? Authors Blake Erickson and Dr. Benjamin Hardy deliver the outrageous truth—lackluster growth isn’t just slow, it’s a sign your business is sliding toward stagnation. Research shows that businesses that are unable to scale quickly usually fail. But why? Because most leaders are focused on the wrong priorities, operating from the wrong assumptions and setting the wrong goals.

In The Science of Scaling, organizational psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Blake Erickson, co-founders of Scaling .com, reveal a revolutionary framework that helps companies scale bigger and faster than they ever thought possible. In fact, companies that apply this framework routinely grow 10–100x within just three years.

If you’re satisfied with small wins and incremental gains, this book isn’t for you. But if you’re ready to stop optimizing what shouldn’t exist―and finally build a business that scales―this is your playbook. When you read this book, you’ll experience a paradigm shift that will cause you to change your perspective on how to operate a business entity. You’ll realize that you’ve been playing small and trapped by fear. Now, you’ll finally understand how to scale the right way: with bold, ambitious goals, extreme honesty and the true “focus”― defined as filtering for only the people and paths that align directly with your highest vision.

3. The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers (Rob Fitzpatrick, September 2013)

When you decide to learn something about your customers—what you’re on a mission to figure out what they like and would like to see more of, or get the details of what isn’t working for them and why—the standard advice given to every marketing or sales leader, Freelancer or business owner, is to ask them. Talking to those who buy your services or products is considered a foundational skill of sales and marketing. We all know we’re supposed to do it, but no one wants to admit that it’s not so easy to do it right and make your customer feel comfortable enough to give you the info you need, but it can be all too easy to screw up and say the wrong thing—-or say the right thing in the wrong way.

The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers by Rob Fitzpatrick is a practical guide that helps entrepreneurs navigate the crucial task of talking to customers in order to confirm a business idea, or ask questions about an existing service or product. Fitzpatrick illustrates how sensitive conversations can go wrong and shows you how to keep them on track, so that you’ll get the info that you need to move forward. Now you can reduce the risk of building products nobody wants and make informed decisions based on real customer behavior rather than on polite feedback.

The author is an entrepreneur who co-founded the education agency Founder Centric, taught at top universities including Harvard, MIT and University College of London (UK), co-wrote the book Workshop Survival Guide, which describes how to design and run effective and engaging workshops. He also managed to learn enterprise sales, skill that fuels his current vocation of gathering unbiased customer learning and taking an idea from nothing through to its first dozen or so paying customers.

4. Financial Intelligence: A Manager’s Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean (Karen Berman and Joe Knight, February 2013)

This is an excellent book for anyone who doesn’t have a traditional business administration background. Financial Intelligence is a comprehensive guide that’s meant to help managers at all levels understand the often intimidating world of finance and shows you how to make sense of financial data and use that knowledge to make better decisions and develop more confidence.

One of the best things about the book is how clearly authors Karen Berman and Joe Knight simplify and present complicated financial ideas into terms that are easy to understand and to the point. Even those who have never studied business before can understand the core ideas and use them in real life. Berman and Knight stress how important financial knowledge is for all managers, no matter what area they work in. The fact that financial information can be used in any situation is very interesting. It changes the way we think about financial knowledge so that it is no longer a special skill but a core skill that is essential to good management.  The book isn’t just about figuring out what the numbers mean; it’s also about how to use that knowledge to make good business choices. It is a must-read for any boss who wants to make their company successful financially.

5. Inside the Box (David Epstein, April 2026)

We live in a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and values freedom above all else. We have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All that choice is wonderful; it is also overwhelming. The irony is that total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don’t necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessing creativity to finding personal satisfaction.

Author David Epstein argues that all of us—individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies—can benefit from narrowing our options. He dives into the science and practice of constraints, exploring exactly when and how guardrails can be beneficial, whether we’re working with limited resources or using self-imposed boundaries to tap unexpected wells of focus and innovation.

6. Build Your Dream Network (J. Kelly Hoey, January 2018)

Acclaimed business columnist and networking expert J. Kelly Hoey offers a fresh new approach to mastering this timeworn skill in a world where everyone is posting, liking and friending fast and furiously, but are mostly failing to leverage their connections successfully—because they’re not really connections. Hoey’s book presents innovative strategies for developing strong and healthy relationships–the genuine, mutually beneficial, long-lasting kind–by using all of the social tools at your disposal. She also reveals creative and surprisingly simple ways to harness the power of your network to accomplish any ambition, from landing your dream job, to signing a coveted account or client, to successfully crowdfunding a new business venture.

J. Kelly Hoey cuts through the noise of traditional networking and provides strategies for creating authentic, mutually satisfying relationships. She emphasizes that real networking is not about attending dull cocktail parties or gaining a large number of connections online. The book is packed with innovative strategies to help you make the most of both in-person and digital networking opportunities. One of the standout aspects of Build Your Dream Network is its focus on turning “closed-door” conversations into solid business opportunities and personal relationships. Hoey provides advice on how to approach and follow up with contacts in an authentic and strategic way.

 7. Atomic Habits (James Clear, October 2018)

 Are you struggling to build some useful new habits that you will actually incorporate into your life? Atomic Habits by James Clear breaks down the process of developing a useful new habit and serves it up in four simple steps: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy and make it satisfying. If you truly want to live a “successful” life (placed in quotation marks here as success is subjective and its definition is up to you), then you need to put in the time and effort daily to build healthy habits that support your goals and productivity. James Clear shows us that habit-building can be easy and fun. It’s not as boring or arduous as you might think.

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. 

The book will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

8. Rework (Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, March 2010)

Most business books give you the same old advice: Write a business plan, study the competition, seek investors, ad nauseum.
But for many aspiring entrepreneurs, you’ll be better off if you stop talking and start working; authors Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson show you how its done. You’ll learn why a multi-page business plan will not necessarily help your mission, why you probably don’t need outside investors and why you could do better by ignoring the competition.

The truth is, to build a successful business entity, less than can be more. You don’t need to be a workaholic. You don’t always need to hire staff (especially not with artificial intelligence powered tools). You definitely don’t need to waste time on paperwork or meetings. You don’t even need an office. Those are all just excuses that block you from seizing the moment.

You’ll learn how to be more productive, how to get exposure without breaking the bank and the value of more counterintuitive ideas that will inspire you. It’s Keep It Simple Strategies make Rework the perfect guide for anyone who’s ever dreamed of doing it on their own. Hardcore entrepreneurs, small-business owners, people stuck in day jobs they hate, victims of downsizing—Freelancers!—will all find valuable guidance and inspiration in these pages.

9. Future Fit: How to Stay Relevant and Competitive in the Future of Work (Andrea Clarke, March 2019)

The future of work is about talent, not technology, says Andrea Clarke, author of ‘Future Fit: How to Stay Relevant and Competitive in the Future of Work. Clarke points out that if we want to outrun the algorithm to stay secure in the future of work, we need to upgrade our own capability in ways we may not have considered. As artificial intelligence is adopted into the workplace and traditional employee arrangements transform, we’re heading into a far less structured era of work.

For organizations, it means re-imagining talent models, re-skilling the workforce and re-defining business practices for a digital age. For individuals, it means the responsibility for finding, securing and delivering work lies with us more than ever before with the individual. That sounds like the Freelance sector to me! The book will equip you with eight critical human skills we’ll need to invest in for a new working environment. From Reputation Capital, Communication, Adaptability and Creativity to Networking, Leadership, Problem-Solving and Continuous Learning.

10. Start With Yourself (Emma Grede, April 2026)

Start with Yourself is a game-changing, no-nonsense guide for seeking meaningful success on your own terms. It’s an essential framework that will give you the tools and mindset to unlock your full potential in life and business—straight from a woman who defied all the odds to become a serial entrepreneur, most famously as a founding partner of SKIMS with Kim Kardashian and co-founder of Good American, a maker of denim clothing for women, with Khloe Kardashian. Ultimately, this is a book for everyone tired of feeling like a bystander or passenger in your own life. Author Emma Grede offers tangible and applicable-right-now solutions to create a mindset, an overall system of thought to manage emotions, clarify ideas and illuminate the right next step—while always staying positive.

Above all, Grede offers a new vision for work and life that encourages readers everywhere to take responsibility for their own thinking in order to achieve personal and professional success at the highest levels. It’s about gathering yourself after failure. It’s about being accountable but also forgiving yourself. It’s about not expecting shortcuts while never being bashful about grabbing them when they appear. It’s about pushing hard for wins and never apologizing for your dreams.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © Walther Firle (Germany, 1859-1929) Three Girls Reading, circa 1900

Marketing , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

And the Winner is User Generated Content!

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Human beings are, most of us, risk averse. Before trying something new, many of us will do a background check to find out how those who’ve had occasion to use the service or product feel about the experience; and how do those who’ve used the whatever rank the degree of satisfaction it delivers? How does it look, feel, sound, taste, operate, or entertain you? Was the level of satisfaction 5-star excellent, a 10? Or was it 3-star not bad, a 6?

Before committing to try something new, many prospects are inclined to feel safer when they learn how those with user experience feel. So they find the book review, watch the movie trailer, see the celebrity chef cook during a TV guest spot; they’re on a decision-making mission. Similar behavior occurs in the B2B sector, with Freelance professionals, business owners and marketing specialists working on the creator side to manage responsibility for delivering informative, persuasive and memorable experiences to current or potential clients and others who visit company websites, social media accounts, podcasts, newsletters, or other marketing platforms that can influence a buyer’s journey decision-making mission. First person user experience reports can be influential when they are memorialized in comments or stories on social media platforms or as ratings on ranked reviewing sites; and their reach is long. It was recently reported that approximately 98% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase—meaning that first-person user experience narratives can contribute to the decision-making process associated with the B2B buyer’s journey.

The level of website page views and social media site visits and engagement have long been a reliable barometer of audience interest and approval. Ranking sites such as Angi’s List, Google Business, Amazon or Facebook Reviews and Yelp that invite users to express how they feel about the service or product by awarding (or withholding) stars and/or personal comments have been another trustworthy barometer of audience approval. Not long ago, those who seriously contemplated doing business with a particular company were sure to check in with a go-to ranking site to obtain what they considered trustworthy feedback. But that was then and this is now.

You may have noticed that “grade inflation” has infiltrated popular ranking sites? Prospective buyers have become increasingly suspicious. How many of you have heard rumors about companies that pay advertising agencies to generate untrue reviews that award 5-stars for experiences that never took place? Furthermore, it was recently leaked that Artificial Intelligence-generated “customer” reviews are tainting ranking sites and diminishing trust. According to data from Pangram Labs, nearly 74 % of AI-generated reviews are fabricated 5-star fantasies. As you would expect, the credibility of review site rankings is dropping, the outcome of an unusual number of reviews on some sites that have received 5-star rankings. Freelancers and other marketing leaders are waking up to the fact that they must restore the credibility of user reviews. Enter User Generated Content.

UGC is original, from-the-heart, content that’s created by real life users of your service or product who are motivated to express what they consider an important assessment or other message about doing business with you. The primary creators of UGC are long-term clients and brand cheerleaders. Usually posted on social media accounts, UGC communicates deep admiration and trust for the product or service. It’s most often expressed in reviews or testimonials and presented in text or video format along with images.

In a B2B buying environment that a growing number of prospects don’t quite trust, thanks in part to the misuse of AI to create fake product reviews, plain-spoken UGC is like a breath of fresh air. Its presence can drive up to a 137 % higher purchase likelihood than slick and scripted agency produced content—because UGC is unquestionably authentic. In today’s digital marketplace, UGC has demonstrated that it is an effective component of brand credibility and capable of influencing buyer journeys and purchases for as long as it remains posted, establishing trust that stimulates positive word-of-mouth endorsements, repeat business, referrals and an increased customer lifetime value.

That’s why right now, Freelancers, business owners and marketing leaders would be wise to press the start button and introduce UGC reviews to your digital marketing strategy. What follows are tactics that digital marketing experts recommend to build a UGC campaign that will not only persuade your current clients to share their UGC success stories, but will also help participating clients to tell a story that resonates with site visitors who appreciate UGC content.

Make UGC seem easy and valuable to clients

It’s possible that a couple of clients will, without prompting, post UGC that is useful to your product, service and/or organization; but the impact will be more persuasive when there are several UGC posts that describe the positive and trustworthy experiences that result when doing business with your brand. To move things forward, you will benefit from outreach—specifically, a UGC recruitment campaign that invites happy clients to share the good news about your product, service and organization.

You can explore digital marketing agencies to discuss the scope and pricing of their UGC services, or you may choose the Do It Yourself option to build and manage your UGC marketing campaign on your own. Marketing experts recommend that a successful UGC campaign be presented as email marketing and that the most effective recruitment tool is a UCG review request, which is attached to the email. Develop a list of clients with whom you’ve recently done business and that you are fairly certain have had a positive experience with the product or service that was purchased. Ride the wave of good timing by inviting requests from those whom you expect the memory of their good experience with your brand is fresh, making the motivation to talk about the experience strong. A detailed, clearly expressed and enthusiastic narrative that is presented as text plus an image or two, or in video format, has the potential to become a powerful marketing asset for your brand.

Moreover, a good UGC recruitment strategy must be personalized and designed to make the client’s participation efficient and even empowering. Be certain to use a mobile-friendly, customizable UGC review response form that is easy for participating clients to complete and submit to you. Devise a simple but elegant email and review request form that enhances successfully completed and submitted responses.

You probably guessed that successfully persuading a client to participate is a thrill, but it’s only half the battle. The submitted review must tell a persuasive story in order to influence prospective clients. To create enthusiastic and clearly expressed content, it will be a smart idea to provide participating clients with editorial guidance. Define expectations by including some content suggestions that could enhance the quality of reviews. You don’t want a slick and polished description of the experience; rather, you want to help clients to remember and clearly express what mattered most to them. Consider suggesting the following:

  • Beyond the stars: Instead of a bland question to use as a suggested client response starting point for the UGC, such as “How did you like using (the product or service)?,” suggest instead a more personal and specific question, such as  “Did the product/service resolve your problem?” or “Did the product or service help you achieve your goal or fulfill your purpose?” Good questions help clients recall specific details that can demonstrate the credibility your future clients are looking for.
  • Visuals: Nothing is more powerful than seeing a product in a real-time setting. Client photos and/or videos are highly desirable and known to build trust and demonstrate authenticity. Client videos and images are significantly more effective than photos or videos produced by advertising professionals. Your review collection process should actively encourage the inclusion of visuals and simplify their uploading.
  • Incentives: Offering a small discount or loyalty points for contributing a review can increase participation in your UGC campaign. However, be transparent about it. The goal is to encourage feedback, not to “buy” positive reviews.
  • Reminders: Many clients intend to leave a review but may forget to complete the process. Who among us doesn’t need follow-up? A single, polite reminder sent 5-7 days after your initial email request can significantly increase the total number of reviews collected.

Review, manage, moderate

Once the reviews start rolling in, you will need a management system. Effective moderation gives site visitors, whether new clients or a devoted brand cheerleader, a trustworthy resource for current, prospective, or returning lapsed clients while enabling you to engage directly with your clients and build relationships. Avoid the mistake made by AI-powered reviews and post more than just 5-star reviews that are received. Displaying honest criticism that may arrive shows that you’re a transparent brand. The key is to have clear internal guidelines for moderation. You should publish nearly all legitimate reviews and only edit out spam or reviews that are off topic.

Display UGC reviews for maximum impact

  • Integrate social proof at every key touch point of the buyer’s journey. Don’t make prospects hunt for it.
  • Product pages: For e-commerce, product detail pages are must-have locations for UGC review visibility. Your product detail pages must feature a prominent reviews section. Key placements include a star rating summary directly under the product title and a complete review plus widget further down the page.
  • Homepage: The homepage is your digital storefront. Use a review carousel or a gallery of visual UGC reviews to build immediate trust with first-time visitors and showcase your most popular products through the eyes of customers.
  • Category pages: When a prospective client browses a category with dozens of options, reviews can be the deciding factor. Displaying star ratings directly on product listings on these pages helps users compare items and click through to products with strong social proof.
  • Checkout & cart pages: Even a small display of your overall site rating on the cart or checkout page can provide that final nudge of reassurance, helping to reduce abandonment rates.

Responding to reviews: Turn feedback into relationship-building conversations

Your job isn’t done when a review is published. Engaging with positive and negative feedback is an essential component of responsive, exceptional customer service; transparency and the willingness to address what needs to be improved builds relationships and loyalty. Responding to a negative review, while perhaps stressful, can turn a dissatisfied client into a loyal advocate.

  • Acknowledge promptly and publicly: Respond directly to the negative review so others on the buyer’s journey can see you’re willing to engage.
  • Apology and empathy: Show that you understand the client’s frustration. A simple “We’re so sorry to hear about your experience” goes a long way to overcoming disappointment and repairing a rift.
  • Offer a reasonable solution: Don’t just apologize; make it right. Offer a refund, a replacement, or a discount on a future purchase.
  • Take the conversation offline: Provide a direct contact email or phone number to resolve the specific details of their issue privately. This shows you’re taking it seriously while keeping sensitive information out of the public eye.

Finally, search engines love fresh, relevant content and what’s fresher than a constant stream of new client reviews? UGC is an excellent, often updated source of Search Engine Optimization goodies like long-tail keywords and natural language that real people use to search for products.

Thanks for reading and Happy Independence Day (July 4) to those in the US!

Kim

Image: © Alamy

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Vacation: Planning Your Restorative Recess

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Labor performed by Freelance workers continues to exert a significant influence on the global economy. Freelance professionals play a central role in leading industries on every continent, as demonstrated by the prevalence of Freelance professionals working in software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, human resources, graphic design, marketing, business consulting and in creative industries, from photojournalism to landscape design. Many of you in the U.S. and around the world have built rewarding and lucrative Freelance solopreneur entities. However, it is not an exaggeration to acknowledge that many Freelance workers struggle with one ordinary, but integral, facet of working life—taking time off.

Culture and customs

Unlike W-2 employees, Freelance workers are self-pay all the way—health insurance, holiday, personal, or sick time, retirement fund and vacation time. While there can be exceptions, such as retainer clients or ongoing projects where billable hours are front-end loaded, in many cases a day or a week without work can mean a day or a week without revenue. Revenue income is directly linked to billable hours, deliverables to the client, or project milestones. It can be difficult to step away from billable hours and risk diminishing your income or, heaven forbid, undermining your relationship with a coveted, but high-maintenance, client. Precarious circumstances can instill a fear of professional risk that can override what is, or should be, a normal part of working life.

On top of that, when working in the knowledge economy, whether you participate as 1099-NEC or W-2 labor, clients or employers may have developed an “always on” expectation of the help, a custom that is common in the U.S. and parts of East Asia and is taking hold in some sectors in the Middle East. Rapid response times enabled by a constant digital presence have become the norm in some industries and, increasingly, the practice now defines the preferred client relationship. Email, instant messaging and video conferencing make it easy for clients to expect immediate feedback from their Freelance collaborator, regardless of time zone differences or observances of local holidays. Unfortunately, the 24/7 always-on business culture can erode the boundaries between working hours and personal time, particularly for Freelancers who already operate without the advocacy of a multinational corporation that can enforce fixed work schedules.

Adding to the Freelancer’s stress is the awareness that platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal give prospective employers instant access to your potential replacement—a talented individual who may reside in your own country or on another continent, and is ready to service those who were once your clients. Under those anxiety-producing conditions, even established Freelancers may hesitate to go off-line and take a break that exceeds a long weekend, so worried are you that even a long-standing client might explore alternative providers while you are out of the office.

Health and wellness

Still, there are persuasive health and even professional benefits associated with incorporating vacations and holidays into your Freelance work schedule. Health care professionals point out the direct links between chronic overwork, cardiovascular risk, anxiety and depression and diminished productivity associated with the neglect of taking time off to relax and refresh your energy and focus. For Freelancers, who must, on your own, juggle client acquisition, deliver excellent project results and outcomes, perform administrative duties such as invoicing and project proposal submissions and conduct strategic planning for your business entity, the risk of burnout is typically higher than for traditional employees who have team support. Your long-term success depends on it.

Rest is not merely a wellness concept; it is a performance driver. Research from organizations such as Harvard Business Review  has consistently shown that cognitive performance, creativity and problem-solving improve after periods of genuine disconnection. Vacations and holidays contribute to building resilience and even creativity. You owe it to yourself to periodically step away from the grind and allow your mind and body to rest and recover.

Budget and schedule

Because you must finance your extended holiday, build projected restorative recess expenses into your company’s annual budget. Your annual Freelance business revenue (your income, that is) should cover your non-billable time, from the administrative duties you perform to standard and local holiday observances and your personal vacation days. Step One of your time-off enablement strategy is obtaining a reasonable estimate of the amount you can afford to spend and when you can afford to do it.

Begin by forecasting your revenue (what you expect to earn), cash-flow (when accounts receivable should arrive and when accounts payable expenses are due) and calculate a reasonable vacation budget. You might feel comfortable setting up a dedicated savings account and depositing 5% – 15% of monthly revenue received to create for yourself “paid leave” fund. Over the course of a year, you may be able to finance perhaps three to four weeks of non-billable time.

Remember also that retainer agreements are an excellent system for guaranteeing your revenue stream and can preserve your cash-flow during holidays and slow periods. Client retainer agreements can accommodate time off for holidays by front-loading your client work, or even reducing the scope of the work you perform, perhaps by yourself and the client negotiating a specified number of hours you will be available.

As for when you choose to schedule a vacation, you might simply confirm the slowest business periods on your calendar—maybe the last week of December or sometime during July or August? Few key clients are in the office during those blocks of time. You will also do well to reframe your approach to holidays; they can be more than random disruptions in your weekly workflow. Open yourself to recognizing a holiday as the foundation of a week’s vacation, for example.

Tech enabling

The rapid evolution of digital tools has significantly transformed what it means for Freelance workers to take time off. Automation and artificial intelligence powered assistants and agents can now play a pivotal role in maintaining operations continuity while the human overseers step away to take a recess. Your newsletter and other marketing emails, monthly invoices, monthly financial statements and sales funnel CRM follow-up can automatically be set into motion. Project management platforms such as ClickUp, Asana and Trello make it possible to monitor progress and status, assign responsibilities and set timelines to ensure that time-sensitive projects can move forward while you are away. If you must take a (brief!) meeting during your vacation, there are numerous videoconferencing platforms that allow anyone with internet access to check in and participate.

If maintaining data security is a priority for you (and it should be), particularly for Freelancers who will travel and also monitor client work from multiple locations. When grabbing internet access from hotels or co-working spaces, the risk of experiencing a data breach or other attack grows. Security-conscious Freelancers will use a virtual private network (VPN), two-factor authentication and encrypted password managers to protect data—their own and the clients’. When travelling, it is imperative that you protect your data, especially if you’ll log-on from remote work environments.

Communication plan

So can you get the ball rolling on a vacation you’ll take sometime before this year ends? A carefully designed financial plan and a date range that can be expected to cause minimal disruption to your work schedule are all good—but will not please your clients if a sloppy communication process causes them to feel blindsided or abandoned when you, their Freelance collaborator, announce a hiatus. Timely information must be the cornerstone of your communication strategy. Put yourself in the client’s shoes and imagine how much lead time would be useful for you and your team?

For example, if you decide to add a couple of days to a holiday long weekend, giving clients four to six weeks notice should suffice; but giving clients eight to ten weeks advance notice if your out-of-office time will extend to a week or two will be much appreciated. The longer your absence, the more advance notice you should give. Freelancers who value professionalism and good manners typically inform their currently engaged clients of planned absences well in advance (depending on the nature of the work). In your communication to clients, be certain to provide precise out-of-office dates, a summary of deliverables and/or milestones that will be completed before your departure and, if applicable, response expectations you will fulfill during your vacation, along with any contingency arrangements developed to preserve workflow that will be put into place.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © AlikaObraz for Freepik. A healing hot springs soak in Loutra Edipsou, Greece.

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7 AI Tools Take Your Freelance Entity To The Top

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If striking out on your own to launch a solo Freelance entity has progressed from interesting idea status to a Pinterest goal in development, you may be ready to explore a few specifics that will help you prepare to advance your plan from the Pinterest board to a functioning business entity. It is almost certain that you’ve considered how Artificial Intelligence-powered software and other digital tools can optimize your business operations. You’ll be happy to know that numerous AI-powered technological resources are readily available to help Freelance solopreneurs operate their one-person enterprise with an efficiency and impact that rivals larger organizations.

A 2026 report published by Upwork, the Freelance talent marketplace that serves both companies in search of knowledge economy workers and independent professionals whose business is to provide it and the digital communications provider Zoom, 91% of Freelance single owner business entities say that AI has reduced their routine administrative work and enabled 74% of respondents to scale without hiring full-time employees. In fact, many Freelance business owners view operating a single-person entity as an advantage that bakes in operational flexibility and strategic agility. When necessary, a Freelance solopreneur can turn to software-as-a-service AI agents and/or assistants, or hire a Freelance colleague whose expertise can be contracted on a per-project basis, to expertly manage whatever aspects of the project are outside of his/her wheelhouse. The Rise of the Solopreneur report, which surveyed nearly 3,000 respondents located in 48 states and participating in 12 industries, provides a window into how this entrepreneurial segment is building success and expanding its impact in the global labor force. For workers and companies alike, the rise of Freelance solopreneurs who strategically implement AI-powered tech resources demonstrates that the future of work may no longer be defined by the number of workers a company employs, but rather by the founder’s expertise.

The challenges once inherent in operating a business alone have steadily declined since the advent of tech advances that have become commonplace—cloud computing, e-commerce infrastructure, including secure online payment options, social media platforms and other marketing activities that promote the company and build the brand. Moreover, there are now Freelance marketplace platforms that facilitate the building of a vital client list. That’s all good, but life as a Freelance on-your-own business owner requires significant confidence and discipline, along with expertise in your field.

Being able to manage stress and stay motivated are a couple more must-have characteristics. You’ll also have to be ready to wear many hats, for example marketing, sales, customer service, accounting/finance and operations. Oh, yes, and as CEO, you are the face of the company. There’s no one else to delegate tasks to, so being incredibly resourceful, strategic in managing their time and all-around resilient are other qualities Freelance solopreneurs must live up to.

It can be successfully done if that is the way you want it! Below are a few technological resources that will help you stay on top of things and maintain a positive mindset while you do.

1. Financial Reporting and Analysis: AI-powered financial tools are foundational for sound decision-making that is informed by your company’s key performance metrics. AI powered financial tools can deliver timely, relevant perspectives to financial analysis and give eye-opening insights into what drives revenue and profit. However, AI financial tools are not one-size-fits-all and the service you choose must align with the your reporting and analysis needs. Predictive analytics for financial forecasting might be a priority.

2. Customer Relations Management: CRM integrates your marketing strategies with AI-powered technology and brings highly useful capabilities by using advanced analytics, market research and automation to deliver personalized customer experiences that increase sales conversions, increase customer loyalty, encourage repeat business and reduce churn. AI can enhance customer acquisition by facilitating targeted marketing campaigns, improving conversion through predictive analytics and making recommendations that help you optimize sales strategies. As well, CRM will ensure comprehensive customer service and a pleasantly memorable customer experience, by tracking and managing all customer touch points—for example, purchases and inquiries—to deliver consistent support.

3. Operations and Workflow Management: AI software systems are powerful tools that can, among other capabilities, streamline work processes and improve operational efficiency by mapping, automating and tracking your workflows to monitor your output and progress. An AI agent can also provide actionable recommendations to address critical operational issues and even augment or correct incomplete or inconsistent data, to help you obtain accurate insights and achieve informed decision-making. By training on historical data, AI models can quickly identify unusual patterns and outliers that might signal quality control issues. 

4. Sales/Marketing Funnel & Leadgen: AI-driven leadgen marketing/sales funnels are able to adjust timing, marketing or sales channels and personalized messages that respond to the behavior of prospective buyers In Real Time. Responsiveness is valuable to you because a lost lead is lost revenue. According to research by Mc Kinsey, adaptive AI-powered marketing/sales funnels reduce prospect drop-off and make a sale more likely. AI can manage customer relations management entries, qualify leads and even handle initial sales interactions via your AI-powered chatbot. AI lead qualification can ask the initial questions, score intent, tag high-quality leads and push the most promising prospects into your pipeline automatically.

Be sure to add a Follow-Up Agent, a software tool that automates the process of staying in touch so that promising leads are not lost due to insufficient follow-up. Instead of relying on manual reminders sent by you, the follow-up agent uses AI to “read” ongoing conversations and determine when and how to reach out, adapting the timing of follow-up and conversational tone depending on how the lead interacts. The system is designed to track engagement signals such as email opens, clicks, or unanswered messages. Based on this information, the follow-up agent does exactly that by composing personalized messages that reflect the context of the conversation and even the role of the recipient.

5. Content Strategy and Creation: AI can draft newsletters, blog posts, social media updates, marketing emails for campaigns and advertising copy, all tailored to specific audience segments and optimized for Search Engine Optimization. AI software can also analyze customer data to segment audiences and automate personalized marketing messages. A Content Repurposing Agent– will transform long-form content (blogs, YouTube, newsletters) into short clips that enable you to extract the full value of your strategies and messages and reinforce their impact by recycling it to the other platforms. Now you can produce social media posts, marketing emails—or even videos that feature you discussing key points of your message and what it means to customers—and using a script that’s inspired by the repurposing agent.

6. Graphic Design: AI is revolutionizing the design industry, making it possible for those who are not design professionals to produce credible graphic designs for your marketing materials that enhance personalization and improve engagement that promotes sales conversations. In a recent McKinsey Global Survey, 65% of participants noted their company regularly use generative AI—nearly double the percentage recorded 10 months before and 69% of marketing and other creative professionals believe AI-enhanced tools boost their team’s creativity. AI can generate numerous ideas and variations based on initial input, helping graphic designers break through creative blocks and explore directions they might not have considered otherwise. AI is also lowering the barrier to entry for non-designers who need to produce visual content. User-friendly design assistants can guide novices through the creative process, offering suggestions and automating complex tasks. Take a look at some highly favored design software.

7. Cybersecurity & Data Privacy: Managing a primarily AI-driven business presents significant cybersecurity precautions. Small and medium-sized businesses, a category that includes Freelance solopreneurs, are more frequent targets of cybercrime than larger companies, industry research shows. The good news is agentic AI and AI agents are beefing up cybersecurity by automating decision-making. Not only will an AI-powered cybersecurity system enable dynamic access management by adjusting user access based on behavior and risk, in that way aligning with zero trust principles, but also agentic AI will continuously monitor activities, and reveal atypical patterns to identify and mitigate insider threats before they escalate.  Furthermore, agentic AI enhances workflow efficiency by automating tasks like alert triage and incident response, with applications in cybersecurity for autonomous threat detection and response (Lisowski, 2024). Organizations adopting agentic AI for security and governance are reporting significant benefits, including faster decision-making and improved risk management (Chiodi, 2025).

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: Freepik

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Let Your Data Do Its Job

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It is likely that most business owners and other company leaders in America today often describe themselves as “data-driven” decision-makers and strategy builders; data driven is such a self-affirming and empowering term. In Real Time, though, it’s more than likely that rather few business owners and leaders are living the dream. Oh, many, if not most, subscribe to software-as-a-service financial tools, like NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics 365. They’re also hooked up for customer relations management, thanks to HubSpot and Zoho. It’s almost a given that a growing number of them have waded into Artificial Intelligence, probably starting with an AI-powered chatbot, maybe provided by Ada. Some may have already advanced to an AI digital assistant that will, by human command, expertly perform a variety of routine administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings, sending standard emails (like vendor onboarding correspondence), or conducting research.

So business owners and leaders are mostly all-in with tech advances—I guess it makes them feel in control and secure. But the real question is, do business owners and leaders—you—understand and trust the data? Are you able to rely on the story your data tells you, the scenario it reveals? If your key performance index (KPI) metrics indicate that all is bubbling along as intended, I’m sure it’s safe to say that you understand which numbers indicate good news. But if one or more KPIs signal an anomaly that could be a warning of developing trouble ahead, would the message communicated by your data push you to take an action of some sort? When a red light is flashing, what will you do and when will you do it?

Do you take advantage of the precious resource of time that your data can give you and use it to take a second look at what may be an unexpected bump in the road? Maybe a KPI metric that’s tracking in the wrong direction will inspire you to check out another KPI to get another perspective on the number that you find rather worrisome? A truly data-driven leader strategy has faith in the scenario that the numbers reveal; those who understand and trust their information have confidence in the story that the info tells them, whether the description is a random shiver, or an obstacle that calls for a strategy and a plan to implement it. In other words, what separates winners from also-rans often comes down to one fact—when its time to make an impactful decision, what’s your usual response? Does your data play a starring role, or does it make only a cameo appearance?

Being data-driven means much more than access to reliable information. How and when you typically engage your info when there’s a potential problem to resolve, or a decision on the table—and even when good fortune allows you to enjoy smooth sailing for a while? So, if your relationship with your data resembles a standing appointment, a special occasion meeting that you faithfully keep once a month, it’s time to join the 21st century? Business owners and leaders who are data-driven IRT know that consistent attention to the data is how you leverage the resource. Identify a small set of meaningful “go-to” metrics—KPIs— to consult because you know they reveal pivotal aspects of company performance. You might choose to follow certain CRM marketing metrics; you’ll definitely refer to your monthly financial statements—Balance Sheet, Cash-flow, P & L—and take a once-a-week peek at, business vital signs that shine a light on basic functioning, such as top line revenue, operating margin, operating cash-flow and the quick ratio calculation. The goal when reviewing your numbers is not to sweat every small fluctuation, but to notice and investigate repeating patterns that could signal the need for a response.

Business owners and leaders who know that the best results are achieved by those who pay attention and act when necessary, avoiding the trap of analysis-paralysis. Verification is a good thing, but refusing to heed the story your KPIs tell you is a waste of your investment in data. It is sometimes wise to wait and see, to confirm the context and avoid a hasty response. But many owners and leaders of also-ran companies tend to hesitate when the picture the data reveals is clear, but perhaps unexpected. Being data-driven is about knowing not only which metrics matter, but also having the discipline and confidence to take action before competitors or other marketplace factors get there first. Winners are able to both interpret the data outcomes and trust the evidence, even when it challenges assumptions. That discipline is what ultimately turns data into a long-term advantage. Companies that consistently outperform others tend to:

  • Monitor KPIs—identify a small set of meaningful metrics to track
  • Look for pattern verification—do two or more metrics indicate that something needs your attention?
  • Make a course correction when necessary
  • Learn quickly from results

Make reviewing reports a weekly activity

The many demands and uncertainties of the 21st century marketplace have expanded the responsibilities required to effectively manage a business. Being data-driven means much more than access to reliable information. How and when you typically engage your info when there’s a potential problem to resolve, or a decision on the table—and even when good fortune allows you to enjoy smooth sailing for a while? So, if your relationship with your data resembles a standing appointment, a special occasion meeting that you faithfully keep once a month, it’s time to join the 21st century. Business owners and leaders who are data-driven IRT know that consistent attention to the data is how you leverage the resource.

Monthly, or even quarterly, reviews of certain reports were once standard—but if you aim to be responsible steward, it will be necessary to be more vigilant. By the time a quarterly report suggests that a certain development could be a problem, the trouble may have been brewing for weeks. Even a monthly review of KPIs can give too much of a head start to a matter that’s about to become urgent. One of the ways that stronger organizations maintain an advantage is to proactively pay close attention to business activity. Smart owners and leaders check their guiding KPIs frequently and, depending on your business, that could be weekly, or even daily (especially if you operate a restaurant). Looking to see whether things are moving in the right direction and thinking about an intervention you can put into motion if they’re not, is standard stuff these days. You want trustworthy forecasting that helps you avoid unfortunate surprises. Hot points might include:

  • Change in customer demand patterns—are certain customers not reordering as often as they once did?
  • Weakening customer engagement—are your usual social media groupies responding to posts less frequently?
  • Early signs of margin pressure—are prospects hesitating and pushing back against your pricing?
  • Is a supply chain obstacle increasing the amount you pay to acquire what you sell, or are you waiting longer to receive orders?

Understand which customers deliver the most growth

Business growth can be misleading and make you surprised to find that what appears to be growth has a shadow side. Meaning, your Profit & Loss Statement can reward you with an increase in quarterly revenue and simultaneously punish you with a shrinking profit margin that’s occurring because the cost of producing or acquiring the products or services you sell have increased. If you decide against raising prices because you fear that customers will not accept an increase— A savvy data-driven leader will turn to the metrics to research questions like:

  • What factors have caused production or acquisition costs to increase?
  • How can your company more efficiently produce the product or service that is sold? If you can make better use of your time, what you gain can be applied to another task and that may save you money. If you acquire what you sell, research the availability of vendors who may offer a lower acquisition cost and attempt a supply chain remedy.
  • Consult your CRM data and learn which customer segments or acquisition channels have a positive impact on growth—bring in the most revenue, profit and your highest Customer Lifetime Value. Also, are there certain customers who generate the most repeat business and referrals?

Treat pricing as an experiment

Pricing strategy is one of the most powerful factors in any business and yet many organizations treat it like a permanent decision — something set once and revisit occasionally. You may find, however, that once you’ve decided whether your company’s market position— high end, mid-market, or economy and identified the optimum profit margin range needed to make the entity viable, you can be more flexible about the prices you set than you may have imagined. Why not approach pricing as a learning process that’s supported by your CRM data? They analyze how different segments respond to price changes or special discounts. It may surprise you to learn that what appears to be business growth has a shadow side.

Your P&L is showing you a nice increase in quarterly revenue but disappointing you with a shrinking profit margin—maybe because of a supply chain issue—you may not be boxed in by a competitor who can afford to price more conservatively. Maybe you can make a modest price increase and make it work?

  • Are certain customer segments more sensitive to price increases while others are resilient?
  • Is there a good strategy to help “sell” customers on your price increase?
  • Will a small price increase change customer behavior?

Experimentation doesn’t need to be complicated. Small controlled tests can reveal a lot about what customers can truly value. Price increases can be passed to new customers only. Long-term customers may be more likely to accept the increase when you contact them personally and explain your now higher production, acquisition costs, or other operating expenses. They will get it. Extending the payment terms to customers who may have difficulty adjusting to an increased price might also be a good solution. Over time, these insights and experiences may lead to smarter pricing decisions and healthier margins.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © The Corporate Finance Institute

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Hit Back and Budget for Cybersecurity

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Friends, it’s getting ugly in America. Criminal acts of every sort appear to be multiplying (or maybe the 24 hour news cycle makes it seem so?). Violent crimes are the most frightening and with good reason, but cybercrimes also victimize those who it touches, and create white collar violence for businesses and private citizens. Numerous sources can confirm that it is not my imagination that this pernicious crime is becoming more common and dangerous.

Earlier this month, nearly 280 million students at 8,8oo+ schools, who were in the midst of studying for final exams, were confronted with a ransomware data extortion attack aimed at Canvas learning management system. Students at Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Harvard University, Duke University and Princeton University, plus Oxford University (UK) and schools in Australia, the EU and other US schools were impacted. Canvas went dark on May 1 and could not function until May 7, stranding students who were unable to submit assignments or study. The cybercrime syndicate threatened to leak student data—names, email addresses and student ID numbers, but not birthdays, government IDs, or passwords, which could not be accessed—unless Canvas made a payment. Instructure, the Canvas parent company, paid an undisclosed amount to the gang on May 12. Other noteworthy recent cybercrimes include a data breach at both booking.com (April 2026) and Dell Technologies (May 2026).

Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that cybercrime lost $10.5 trillion in 2025, making it a voracious, globally and universally impactful expense that continues to escalate Cybercrime To Cost The World $12.2 Trillion Annually By 2031. The average cost of a data breach in 2025 exceeded $4.4 million worldwide, but exceeded $10 million within the US, driven not just by clean-up expenses, but also costs associated with system downtime, legal fees, regulatory fines and diminished brand trust, as noted in Global Data Breach Costs Drop But Lack of AI Risk Mitigation Poses Problems, IBM Report Finds These numbers indicate a fundamental change: company failure now directly correlates with cybersecurity failure. The numerous disturbing reports unequivocally indicate that cyberthreats are not just occasional incidents, but an ongoing menace. Common cybercrimes that often target individuals include:

  • Digital skimming is the set-up for unauthorized use of your credit or debit card information; it is also a potential gateway for identity theft. A skimming scam is often impossible to detect until the fraudsters raid your credit or debit card at an ATM machine or use your money to splurge on an unauthorized shopping spree. Favorite skimming locations are point-of-sale terminals at gas stations and mobile commerce markets. E-commerce websites whose check-out page has loose security measures is another favorite portal for malware that enables the capture of credit or debit account numbers—and maybe other sensitive info as well. For in-person transactions tap your card when the option is available, rather than inserting your chip card into the terminal, to avoid using the magnetic stripe that exposes your name and account expiration date. Regarding online shopping, digital skimming of a website is essentially impossible to detect. An old-school work-around is to phone in your order and speak with a human sales associate (or virtual assistant) to guarantee that your order is legitimately processed. Another option is to ask your bank to generate a virtual credit card for you, a temporary card that’s linked to your card account. If a virtual card number is hacked by a skimmer, the number cannot be reused; also, you can deactivate the stolen virtual card without affecting the real card. You might also use Pay Pal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay for card purchases; they are digital wallets that use tokenized payment data and don’t transmit actual card numbers to the merchant. If an e-commerce site is compromised by a skimmer, the cybercriminal will be unable to obtain your card info. Finally, it’s a good idea to set-up instant notifications for all credit and debit card transactions and receive activity alerts via text message or mobile app. This won’t prevent skimming, but it will help you learn of unauthorized charges immediately so you can call customer service.
  • Phishing attacks are carried out by hackers who send emails that appear to originate from a trusted source. Obtaining usernames and passwords and asking you to download a file—which will contain malware—is the goal. There is a variation of this crime, known as spear phishing, when cybercriminals research targets to learn personal information and use it to craft relevant messages that is sent to targets as a way to build trust and more easily persuade them to drop their guard and enable the scam. The best way to avoid a phishing attack is to pay attention to the sender’s email address. For example, if your city or town appears to be the sender of an email that asks you to reply by sending your payment card number to settle a certain municipal bill, maybe a water or tax bill, remember that the email address will be .gov and not .com, or .biz., for example.
  • Are you a robot? Now there’s a Captcha scam prowling through our digital networks, lying in wait for compliant targets who are just trying to log onto a website. The goal is to introduce a virus to your computer by installing malware that will allow cybercriminals to obtain access to all manner of sensitive information, from your workplace or personal email logins to your financial account credentials, such as crypto-currency wallets and other payment system info. The Captcha cybercrime can even hijack your browser and subject you to an avalanche of pop-up ads and other online annoyances. If Captcha asks you to not only check the box and verify that you are not a robot, but also asks you to press a sequence of keys, open a “run” box, or copy/paste a code, it is a scam. Close the window and disconnect from Wi-Fi immediately.
  • Social engineering is a growing enabler of cybercrime. Basically, the hackers ask you to open the door and let them in. Social engineering is a form of psychological manipulation used to control a targeted individual. It employs universal human traits such as trust, curiosity, fear, politeness and deferring to perceived authority to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security—because they think they should. Phishing and spear phishing are examples of the con. Cybercriminals have figured out that human beings are the weakest link in the security system; it’s easier to trick someone into providing sensitive information than it is to locate security gaps in computer systems. Attackers use a variety of social platforms and other methods to engage in deceptive behavior that’s devised to hoodwink unsuspecting victims. The hackers encourage, or even coerce, their targets into disclosing restricted credentials and other sensitive data to obtain access to devices, digital information, or company facilities. 

Advances in digital technologies have, unfortunately, facilitated the emergence of increasingly creative cybercrime syndicates. What was once often a “belt + suspenders” strategy implemented by the more prudent business owners, comprehensive cybersecurity measures are now a must-have component of an effective risk management strategy. Today, a robust cybersecurity defense is not only an operational competitive advantage that promotes organizational resilience, but also a strategy that strengthens the brand reputation by protecting both organizational and customer data. Going forward, companies of every size must accept that cybersecurity is now a standard business expense. As per Andrew Rinaldi, co-founder at Defendify, a cybersecurity provider, an overview of common cybercrimes that target organizations are:

Denial-of-Service (DoS) and distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks

A Denial-of-Service attack overwhelms your device or company network operating ability and prevents legitimate users from accessing the system. The DoS attack bombards the victim with a flood of traffic or information designed to crash the system. Unlike other types of hacking, DoS attacks are usually initiated by an aggressive competitor who uses the attack to disrupt your website and gain an advantage. Another DoS attack motivation could serve as a diversion for an even more damaging cyberattack, such as a ransomware takeover. A DDoS attack is a ratcheted-up DoS attack, intensified by launching the takeover from multiple host computers. This type of attack overwhelms a company’s website or online service and causes it to malfunction and otherwise become inaccessible.

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks

An MITM attack occurs when hackers literally insert themselves between the user and the services s/he intends to interact with. The MITM cyberattacker intercepts communication between the user and the platform by imitating the website and hijacking online activity—think eavesdropping. In some cases, email conversations can be intercepted and altered, if the attacker decides to control the conversation. Obtaining the ability to make unauthorized purchases by stealing credit and debit card account numbers and other financial credentials that may include identity theft is the usual motive. Unfortunately, no single method can prevent all types of MITM attacks. However, requesting that site users choose strong passwords, requiring multi-factor authentication for user login and using a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt network traffic and avoiding the use of unsecured public Wi-Fi service.

 Drive-by-download attacks

These attacks have the ability to spread malware throughout a wide geographic area. In this scenario, the cyberattacker digitally tracks insecure websites that are susceptible to hacking and inserts the malicious code into vulnerable sites. When an unsuspecting website visitor accesses the infected site, s/he might unintentionally download and install malicious code or be redirected to a fraudulent site created by the attacker. Unlike other types of cyberthreats, a drive-by download doesn’t require the user to take an action, like clicking a button or opening an email, to be infected. All you have to do is visit a website—yikes!

The best way to prevent this type of attack is to keep their internet browsers and operating systems updated and avoid insecure websites, whenever possible. The drive-by is yet another reason to speak with a website security expert to obtain a vulnerability assessment and discuss what you can do to preserve the functioning of your website, the privacy of your data, the trust of your customers and the integrity of your brand.

Ransomware

Ransomware is the leading cyberthreat in the world. As of 4Q2025, 24% reported a ransomware attack, up from 18.6% in 2024. The rise of ransomware cybercrimes is driven by artificial intelligence and the increasing sophistication of phishing schemes. Phishing is the leading attack vector of ransomware cyberattacks and 46% of the ransomware targets confirmed that a phishing attack led the way. Stolen credentials accounted for another 25% of ransomware attacks.

Ransomware continues to become more user-friendly and sophisticated, most recently with the availability of (are you ready for this?) Ransomware-as-a-Service, which allows less technically gifted criminals to carry out attacks, enabled by deepfake technology that makes it easier to outwit security systems. Furthermore, new and more anonymous cryptocurrencies have made it easier to transfer, launder and spend the ransom money without being traced. To coax targets to pay up, hackers commonly resort to various threat campaigns, such as data theft and public disclosure. See the Canvas ransomware attack that hijacked final exams and papers.

Agentic cyberattack


AI agents help hackers to launch more sophisticated and damaging attacks by making it easier to identify weaknesses in cybersecurity systems. Unlike traditional attacks that rely on humans to make decisions and coordinate the action, agentic cyberattacks use agentic AI systems that mimic human decision‑making—only better. AI agents can operate with limited human supervision and also adapt to changing circumstances in real time. Often, multiple AI agents work together, with each handling different tasks. Meaning, an AI agent can carry out the cyberattack. It can execute complex, multi‑stage attacks faster and more consistently than human teams and its ability to quickly adapt makes detection harder, because the attack strategy can change dynamically IRT, if necessary.

On the defense side, Agentic AI and AI agents are beefing up cybersecurity by automating decision-making and adapting to evolving threats (Columbus, 2025). AI systems enable dynamic access management by adjusting user access based on behavior and risk, aligning with zero trust principles—that is, no social engineering con games. Additionally, agentic AI continuously monitors activities, identifying anomalous patterns to detect and mitigate insider threats before they escalate.  Agentic AI enhances workflow efficiency by automating tasks like alert triage and incident response, with applications in cybersecurity for autonomous threat detection and response (Lisowski, 2024). Organizations adopting agentic AI for security and governance are reporting significant benefits, including faster decision-making and improved risk management (Chiodi, 2025).

Deepfake and synthetic cyberattacks
Attackers increasingly use deepfake audio and video to impersonate trusted individuals to gain access to secure systems—more evidence of social engineering. Deepfake video and Generative AI have introduced new risks by making impersonation and fraud more difficult to recognize. The technological advances have given rise to a growing underground economy that offers Deepfake- as-a-Service to cybercriminals by creating customized audio and/or video clips that impersonate requested high-ranking trusted targets who can “authorize” the crime.

In other words, phishing campaigns are now trending toward workflows. for example, a bank manager wired $35 million after receiving a call from a director at the bank, whose “voice”—which in reality was an AI clone that gained trust by way of forged emails—he thought he recognized. Financial approvals, vendor onboarding, contract renewals, payroll changes and legal sign-offs are especially vulnerable to deepfake attacks. These workflows often assume legitimacy because they are frequent requests and time-sensitive. Instead of sending a single malicious email, deepfake attackers simulate full conversations. They build rapport. They reference previous messages. Over time, they can create a narrative that feels real. These conversations are all-too-often able to position the ultimate request—the crime—as simply doing your job. Deepfake phishing and synthetic cyberattacks succeed because the scam avoids obvious red flags. Content doesn’t read as malicious. Sender email looks legit. Context makes sense. Nothing seems suspicious.

Assess and implement your cybersecurity needs

Small and medium-sized businesses, a category that includes Freelance professionals, are more frequent targets of cybercrime than larger companies, industry research shows. The hackers know that smaller organizations often do not have the funds to install a sophisticated cybersecurity system (per social engineering). Because the devil never sleeps, you must realize that it is time for Freelancers and SMB owners to provide a line item budget for cybersecurity. Finding that budget may be a stretch but compared to the cost incurred if the unthinkable happens, the additional expense will seem quite reasonable. Take a look at your P & L to see where you might be able to trim an expense. Better still, brainstorm how you might be able to increase monthly revenue, if only modestly. Research cybersecurity providers to receive an assessment of your digital system and pricing info. The time to act is now, before the bad guys (and gals) discover your business.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © Gorodenkoff Productions for iStock

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Three Actions To Boost Business Revenue Right Now

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Welcome to Entrepreneur World! Owning and operating a business is an impressive achievement and those who can make it happen deserve a big round of applause. However, not all will be rosy. Becoming the steward of a business entity can be overwhelming and sometimes, even frightening. You are sure to be confronted with enough unanticipated events to make you feel as if only the strategic savvy of Hannibal could help you navigate either the obstacles or opportunities. Launching a business entity that you can build into a sustainable success demands that you figure out and put into motion a series of actions that will enable the enterprise to predictably generate sufficient revenue to become profitable (as you define it). On that note, you will be pleased to know that credible business advice is available to lead you through the obstacles and uncertainty that can block your path to success.

Whether you entertain thoughts of creating a company that will hire numerous employees and produce annual profits of seven figures or more, or your vision of entrepreneurship is a more personal reflection that will employ only you, but will nevertheless consistently generate a robust annual profit, know that there is a dependably effective formula that promotes entrepreneurial success. Trustworthy experts in the theory and practice of business entrepreneurship agree that the following activities are recognized as the pillars of a business entity and in tandem will develop a pathway that leads to a thriving and profitable company:

  • Marketing/ Sales, which can also be called business development, facilitates the introduction of prospective customers who have the money and motive to purchase the products and/or services offered
  • Operations, to facilitate back-office administrative functions and fulfill after-sale expectations; such as quality control, packaging, shipping, customer service and the customer experience
  • Finance, to ensure that there is enough money available to enable business development and operational activities

When aligned, these foundational actions—you recognize them as business strategies—have the capability to cultivate vigorous business growth that drives long-term and sustainable success. In anticipation of purchases, the marketing/sales pillar keeps the business owner focused on getting the service or product in front of the right prospects, articulating the right message to the most promising prospects and strengthening client relationships—actions that drive sales revenue and profit and support business development. Back-office administrative functions that can involve professional development and training for yourself and any employees, along with consistent quality control for products and/or services and after-sale follow-up that supports a memorably pleasant and efficiently delivered customer experience are within the realm of operations. Astute financial management, from appropriate record-keeping and analysis to financial forecasting, ensure that optimal funding of all essential business activities is available.

1.Marketing/ Sales

Marketing and sales, which collectively are the core of business development, positions you to promote consistent revenue growth, develop the dependability and trust that cultivates a strong and appealing brand and also foster beneficial client relationships that inspire repeat business, referrals of new clients and limits churn. Business development sets the stage for business growth by introducing your service and/or product to prospective clients; it is the art of identifying and encouraging sales revenue and related growth opportunities. An important objective of business development is to create a repeatable process that you can use to find new business opportunities and turn them into additional income.

Central to the development of marketing strategies will be market research, which brings data and other insights that show you the environment your product or service will enter. A client demographic info provides, for example, geographic distribution, age range, annual income range, or education level. That information will form the basis of a client persona.

To obtain credible, often actionable, boots-on-the-ground marketing and sales insights, consider investing in social listening so that you can tap into real-time conversations that take place across social media, online forums and review sites like Yelp and Trip Advisor. You can sharpen your marketing strategies and campaigns when you discover what really matters to users of your solutions (and competitors’ solutions). Unlike traditional marketing research, social listening delivers continuous, authentic, in real time user feedback that reveals customer sentiment. You might also get a heads-up on emerging trends and other developments in your industry that help you identify market opportunities. Guided by social listening info, you can refine, adjust, or discontinue certain marketing strategies, as you monitor your closest competitors—and boost the effectiveness of marketing strategies, campaigns and messaging.

The activities discussed above will also inform your development of an efficient and effective method for qualifying leads, communicating with prospects and educating prospective clients to give them the confidence to close deals. This includes implementing a follow-up structure through CRMs, ensuring that no leads fall through the cracks while providing the opportunity for timely follow-ups, which can make or break deal negotiations. Also, identify opportunities to offer additional services by upselling and cross-selling existing clients, unlocking additional revenue streams. getphyllo.com/post/social-listening-strategies-business-impact

2. Operations

While business development, supported by sales and marketing strategies and campaigns, is about obtaining clients, operations is about keeping clients happy once they agree to do business with you. Efficient operations processes ensure that an organization functions seamlessly, delivers a consistently memorable customer experience and maintains the high standards that keep clients coming back.

Operations include everything from client onboarding, employee training, customer service, quality control and compliance. Packaging and shipping don’t exist just to deliver a product or service—these services contribute to the goal of ensuring a pleasantly memorable experience that meets or exceeds their expectations of all of your clients.

Quality control is another critical part of operations. Whether it’s a restaurant ensuring that every meal is prepared to the same standard or a service-based business following strict protocols, consistency is what builds trust and loyalty. Clients return because they know what to expect and familiarity is reassuring.

3. Finance

It’s no surprise that chief among a business leader’s responsibility is protecting the financial health of the entity. One important duty of a business owner is to you maintain good financial records, whose primary purpose is to keep yourself apprised of the financial condition of the business and also steer you into making wise business decisions. Three financial statements—Cash-flow, Profit & Loss (Income) and Balance Sheet will be your guiding star for smart planning. Timely filing of your entity’s quarterly and annual taxes are also necessary to comply with legal requirements.

Fast-track growth

Growth is the goal of every business and there are several pathways to the destination—for example, merger and acquisition, where you, business owner and leader, will negotiate a buy-out payment that could mean you either merge with or acquire another company, or agree to sell your business to another entity and allow your company to be acquired. The buy-out or merger will result in a larger client base, expanded product or service and more plentiful working capital and other financial resources that represent business growth for both parties. The merger or acquisition might result in a new management role for you in the newly configured entity; conversely, you may become “silent” and limit your post-sale commitment to accepting the sale price.

Organic business growth is the most common growth strategy. Freelancers who achieve organic growth typically do so by winning more and/or more lucrative clients. Developing additional services or products to add to your portfolio of offerings is another method of achieving organic growth for single-person Freelance entities and small or medium-sized businesses. Organic growth is a solid business growth strategy that can ultimately position a business entity for long-term future success. 

Thanks for reading,

Kim 

Image: N. Hitchcock Collection. Kaparoko, Papua New Guinea (1962)

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Newsletters Are Back

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Marketing mavens have rediscovered the newsletter. After a period of what could be called benign neglect, when this once standard marketing tool fell out of favor and was sidelined, the reappearance of newsletters represents a long overdue acknowledgement of data-verified performance results. Without question, the newsletter has for several decades been among the most effective promotional and relationship-building resources in a marketer’s arsenal.

Some of you reading now may have once looked forward to receiving a favorite newsletter that was delivered by your postal service. Then, in the early 2000s, your humble newsletter demonstrated its agility and responded to the new technology known as email, and seamlessly adapted from hard-copy to digital format. In fact, it can be successfully argued that the multi-faceted, hard-working newsletter was the original email marketing content. The format has again demonstrated that it is an effective, and therefore valuable, component of well-conceived marketing strategies and campaigns. Marketing thought leaders have joined the cheering section, calling digitally distributed (i.e., email) content marketing as foundational to long-term business growth.

Newsletters by definition are communication tools that facilitate engagement and relationship development with readers—that is, current clients, past clients, prospects and also colleagues and peers who’d like to familiarize themselves with your business—and you. According to a 2026 report published by Newsletter Industry Statistics, 78% of B2B marketers use newsletters to generate leads and 60% say newsletters are their top driver of customer retention—which, BTW, invites repeat business. A well-composed newsletter can showcase your entity, and you, in many ways:

  • A platform for you to tell your brand story
  • Cultivate client relationships, inspire trust in prospects, re-engage past clients
  • Demonstrate your thought leader expertise
  • Nurture brand loyalty
  • Make announcements and updates
  • Present product or service spotlights
  • Generate website traffic and sales

Because your newsletter is capable of influencing more people than you may realize, and in more ways than you might imagine, it is imperative that you make it a good read. You have a story to tell; ensure that the information you share is relevant, timely and compelling. Spice up the text with a splash of appealing visuals that aligns with your narrative, using both still images and (short) video clips. Be sensitive to reader attention spans as you compose your newsletter: three pages, or about 500-600 words, is probably suitable for most but still images will expand the page count. Furthermore, your newsletter (and all of your marketing emails) should adhere to mobile device specs, because 60% will be opened on mobile. As for scheduling your newsletter, monthly is an acceptable frequency known to build and maintain reader engagement.

Make it relevant, visually interesting and personal

Before you commit to producing a newsletter for your Freelance entity, decide what you’d like your newsletter to do for your business? Would you like to increase brand awareness, generate leads, nurture relationships, or boost sales? In most cases it’s all of the above, but it makes sense to know your destination before you set off on a journey.

When you’ve clarified the purpose, you can confidently choose topics for articles and other content that will guide your creation of an effective marketing tool. Your customer relations management data will reveal what your clients want to know and, even better, can segment clients into groups based on relevant distinguishing criteria, such as for-profit or not-for-profit designation, pain points or goals that motivate clients to seek out your solution, purchase history, or frequency. By segmenting your audience, you can then tailor certain elements of your newsletter content to each group and in that way enhance the relevance, personalization, engagement and, ultimately, sales revenue generated. Artificial Intelligence software will optimize the insights provided by your CRM data, that can accurately pinpoint client preferences, priorities, behaviors and challenges. Moreover, AI software such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, Ideamap, or Microsoft Copilot, for example, can facilitate the brainstorming and idea generation process and present to you potentially dozens of interesting newsletter topics that would address the focus of your target newsletter reader groups.

According to data reported by Exploding Topics, approximately 72% of newsletter subscribers are motivated by a desire to either stay up-to-date with company happenings or learn about a topic of interest when they choose to subscribe to a newsletter. Surprisingly, when given the option of receiving updates about your brand by way of social media or an email newsletter that slips into their inbox, 90% of readers choose to receive your newsletter.

So there is your mission—identify headline topics that will be segmented by personalized interests and priorities and made available to readers based on what resonates most, as a way to encourage relevance and value that readers will associate with your newsletter, as well as your company. With assistance from your CRM and AI resources, you will learn which topics that a critical mass of readers would like to take a deep-dive exploration into, and also topics for which they’ll be pleased to receive just basic info. Lastly, readers will appreciate quick and visible access to links that announce upcoming events, perhaps some in which you’ll have a featured presence, such as a podcast, webinar, or teaching assignment. Ideally, your newsletter will function as a portal for conversation with your clients and prospects. Make it interactive by including a mix of content that they’ll anticipate reading every month, such as:

  • Links to your blog or other useful articles
  • One deep-dive article
  • Poll or survey
  • Product or service spotlights
  • Call-to-action
  • Special events—your speaking or teaching engagements, participation in charity events

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: courtesy of the Louvre Museum, Paris, France. Muse Reading Greek (Boeotia) circa 435-425 BC