April Check-In
did you know you're the editor in chief of your own magazine?
Spring is here—and it’s a great time to revisit and refresh your brand story. As business owners and creatives, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut of being reactive in your business. But we’re here to remind you: being proactive and strategically going after opportunities to tell your own story through content can be a game changer.
With your owned channels (your website, newsletter, social media channels, etc.), you have an incredible opportunity to tell your story and get the word out, and you can do it exactly how you want to and when you want to. We like to think of owned channels as being the editor in chief of your very own magazine. You get to decide the storylines, the visuals, and the timing. You don’t have to wait for anyone to get back to you or be at the mercy of someone else’s spin on you or your business.
When you use your owned channels to show up consistently and tell your story in a way that is authentic, you start to connect with your audience and customers on a new level. It builds trust and adds value, and that is when the magic happens.
This month inside the membership we walk you through how to define what your unique brand story is and how to tell it in a way that moves the needle for your business. We also share case studies of two brands who have rocked their storytelling and have grown loyal fan followings: Brightland Olive Oil and Melissa Wood Health.
If you’ve been feeling a little stuck or unsure about what your unique story is and how to tell it, this lesson is for you.
Spring is the season for change and growth. As we head into Q2, remember that all things take time! Wherever you’re at right now, whether you’re launching something new or simply nurturing what you’ve already built, we hope this month’s guidance brings you some fresh momentum.
Carla & Kathryn
10 Minute Brand & Messaging Audit
Annual check-ups aren’t just for your health – your brand needs regular ones, too! Here is an easy business check-up you can do in 10 minutes:
Pull up your website and social media channels. Pretend you are your dream customer coming across your business for the first time. Ask yourself these questions:
Is it super clear what you have to offer / how to work with you?
Does it feel like you’re speaking directly to them? Consider your word usage and tone.
Would they walk away knowing the 3 most important things about your business?
Is it easy to find out more about you and why you started your business?
Are you being consistent in how you describe yourself/your business across all of your channels?
Are your visuals and brand aesthetic consistent?
If not, we would encourage you to spend time digging into your brand story, refining your messaging, and updating your owned channels. Watch our latest lesson and download the worksheet inside our membership to get started.
Are you wanting 1:1 customized support with your brand story, messaging and online presence? Kathryn is booking a limited number of brand audit projects.
Start Planning Your Summer Content Now
Planning your summer content in advance will help you take a much-deserved vacation. Here are some content topics and themes to get you started:
Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th & Labor Day (packing, travel, style, kid-friendly activities, sales, recipes, entertaining)
Father’s Day
Summer style guides
Summer outdoor entertaining and hosting
Recipes, in season produce, gardening
Summer reading list
Summer routines – slowing down, taking it easy, coming back to yourself
Tips for staying cool and beating the heat
Travel (tips, style, destinations, budget & kid friendly)
Back-to-school (shopping, style, schedules, organization)
Projects to tackle this summer (work, home, creative)
Mid-year check-in (finances, organization, health/wellness, etc.)
Budget-friendly summer activity and travel ideas
Do you have ideas for content you want to post that you’d like a gut check on? Leave them in the comments!
Meet the Garden Girls! Co-founded by Jen McDonald, Jill Oliver and Nicole Shah in 2022, this Houston-based garden consulting business is now considered the “Fairy Godmothers of Texas gardening.”
Together they have designed and installed over 800 raised bed organic kitchen gardens and pride themselves on growing confident gardeners. Garden Girls was recently featured in Milieu magazine and they have been quoted in Martha Stewart and Homes & Gardens.
Follow them for gardening tips and inspiration: @gardengirlstx.
“The AYN membership has been helpful for us in understanding how to target our messaging, refine our branding and reach the right people! Carla and Kathryn are so personable and insightful- we love working with them and being a part of this valuable community!” - Jen McDonald, Co-Founder of Garden Girls
Reading:
We’re loving reading our AYN members’ Substacks! Here are just a few we’re enjoying:
DRESSED by Robyn - Brooklyn-based writer and stylist Robyn Davies shares “stories behind the clothes we wear, and style outfits with stories.”
The Grosgrain by Heather Davey Fusco, the founder of lifestyle blog Priss & Vinegar. She has been climbing the charts for top lifestyle Substacks to follow!
The Weekly by Lindsay Cavanaugh, a lifestyle newsletter for women on the go thats offers curated links to make your week a little easier.
SRF Interiors by Sarah Fleischer is curated with interior design inspiration and shopping recs.
Statement Wall by member Daniela Caraya provides color consulting advice and cheerful interior design.
Listening:
“Piper, nooo!” After finishing the White Lotus, (no spoilers) we are listening to Celebrity Memoir Book Club’s episode about Parker Posey’s memoir, “You're on an Airplane: A Self-Mythologizing Memoir.”
Following:
It’s no secret we are big Nancy Meyers fans over here. We love following @thisoakhouse, the Instagram account run by her daughter Annie Meyers-Shyer.
p.s. Nancy recently liked Kathryn’s Reel inspired by "The Holiday". We’re star struck! ;)