Welp, we all start somewhere. I’m embarrassed to look at (least alone, share) some of the earliest product images of my candle brand. 🫣 The lighting was bad. The angles and focus were off. The product didn’t look interesting. I remember once confidently sending a really bad photo to a retoucher and asking them to make it look “better.” The photo was so bad that they, in fact, could not make it look “better.” It was in that exchange I learned that even post-production retouching wizardry 🪄...
25 days ago • 1 min read
I’m not looking to repurpose this one content piece for over 30 days because I’m lazy. It’s because it’s what smart (and billion-dollar) brands, marketers, and creators do as part of a healthy, consistent, and strategic digital marketing presence. Some call it a content flywheel or pyramid. Others call it content syndication. You can (and should) do the same. So, this week, I’ll walk you through my strategy for creating this central piece of content and what I plan to do to promote or...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a final rule that officially bans fake reviews and testimonials. I know what you’re thinking... Who on Earth would flat-out LIE and fake customer reviews? 😱 But two things: It’s more common than you think, and The ruling now outlines the types of reviews, review suppressions, websites, and even fake followers that count as the deceptive practices the Commission seeks to protect consumers from. So, that seemingly innocent filler review...
2 months ago • 3 min read
The phrase “link in bio” has become part of our modern lexicon. You, or any creator or small business you know, can say these three magic words and immediately make someone stop scrolling and head to that tiny but powerful link in your social media bio. Because that’s just what a link in bio is: a clickable link in the bio section of a social media profile. This single link usually directs your audience to a landing page with additional content and links relevant to your prospective customer...
2 months ago • 2 min read
My product-based business is international! I’ve expanded my award-winning sensory candle brand to Canada. While this incredible milestone wasn’t on my Bingo card for the business this year, I welcome the growth. I packed the orders and processed the payments. And then. It hit me. First, my e-commerce platform’s 1.5% currency conversion fee on top of the standard 3.6% merchant fee. That’s 5.1% already gone. These fees are on a wholesale order with a 50% markdown on retail value (due to the...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Last weekend, I filed my 7th trademark. I don’t mean to collect trademarks like Pokémon cards. I’m just passionate about protecting my brands (you should be, too) and building a portfolio of intellectual property that can add value to your business. The first six trademark filings have been under the guidance and counsel of a trademark lawyer (which I highly recommend), and I’ve learned a lot. After being sued at the top of this year for a trademark—and needing two lawyers to clear the...
3 months ago • 1 min read
A top-secret giveaway prize for you, The Brand Bloc readers, is in creative development! I thought I’d take you along the ride—or under the hood—to preview the creative process. You might win this prize, after all 🤩 You can also use the below as a guide for your future creative projects and hires (big or small). I hired a creative freelancer (an illustrator, to be specific) to bring my vision to life; she is absolutely knocking it out of the park, making my creative vision for this prize a...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Ever had that eureka moment where you randomly have an idea for a promotion, product, email, or another business idea? Tell me, what’s usually your next thought? A. I have a great idea and need to buy the domain now. B. I have an idea and need to tell a friend. C. I have an idea and need a logo ASAP. I’m guilty of all three 🙋♀️ But this week, I’m here to share that the next best step is: you need to tell a prospective customer. Someone you think is a good fit for the solution to the problem...
4 months ago • 3 min read
The Brand Bloc is growing! And I couldn’t be more excited to have you here. Since our mini break, The Brand Bloc has grown by 30.6% 🤯 But how? Well, that’s the scoop I want to share with you this week... Business automation tools Summertime invites (arguably, tempts) us to make more time for play, leisure, and adventure. We aren’t as glued to our computers, offices, or workstations. Instead, we’re (ideally) checking email less and enjoying the outside more. But for us small business owners,...
4 months ago • 1 min read