Marketing Mentor Blog
The Marketing Mix
Read, watch and listen to the latest insights from Marketing Mentor & friends
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What money confidence sounds like with Terri Tr...
Podcast #408 kicks off 2021 with writer and speaker, Terri Trespicio, whose confidence about money is downright contagious! In our chat, she explains why she’s sworn off retainers (and why she...
How Terri Trespicio Took Control Over Her Busin...
Need some inspiration for 2021? Watch my interview with Terri Trespicio, whose message about becoming sovereign over her business and the decision to "let money flow" when everyone else was...
2020 by the numbers
As we wrap up the year, I keep seeing messages about what a $hit-storm this year was and how everybody wants it d-o-n-e. Speaking coach Jezra Kaye nailed it when...

What it takes to make "email newsletter magic"
Podcast #407 is a conversation with Sarah Pike, a laser cutting artist whose email newsletter, Adventures in Laser Cutting, is working! In this episode, Sarah shares not only her process...
How to attract "qualified" clients with content...
Podcast #406 Is a chat with Melanie “the Marketer” Deardorff about the technique I use (and teach) to attract your ideal clients with content marketing so you can stop wasting time...
What's the opposite of Feast or Famine?
Almost everyone I work with is trying to avoid or overcome feast or famine. But what is the opposite of feast or famine? And how do you achieve it? It's...
What You Can Do About "Impostor Syndrome"
Podcast Episode #404 What To Do About “Impostor Syndrome.” If you are among the 70% who struggle with Impostor Syndrome, today's episode is for you. Dr. Valerie Young, the world's leading expert on the...
Should Solopreneurs Have a LinkedIn Company Page?
Do solopreneurs and freelancers need a "company page" on LinkedIn in addition to a personal profile? It's quite a controversial topic -- and here are answers all along the spectrum,...
Should you become a book coach? A chat with Jen...
If you love words, this just may be your dream job. On Thursday, October 22 at 5 PM Pacific/8 PM Eastern, Jennie Nash and Ilise Benun will talk about what...
LinkedIn Hack: A Simple Way to Get People Comme...
How do you engage on LinkedIn without spending tons of time creating content? The truth is, all you need is an engaging question or idea -- and that takes thinking....
[Podcast] Experienced Newbies: Your Online Pres...
In my latest podcast interview, I kick off a new series called “Experienced Newbies.” We’ll be following communications professional, Lisa Mullis, as she goes through a mid-career makeover and navigates the...
[Experienced Newbies] How to Present Your Past
We are hereby kicking off a new series called Experienced Newbies, by and about creative professionals who are making mid-career transitions and building a new career on the foundation of their past experience and...
Why is Zoom So Exhausting? with Eleanor Handley
In Podcast #402, I chatted with communications coach, Eleanor Handley, about why spending all day on Zoom is so exhausting and much more.
LinkedIn 101 for New Copywriters
"Melanie the Marketer" Deardorff answers 10 questions asked by beginning copywriters about how to use LinkedIn effectively (and shares a few videos too).
I had a baby, secretly.
All the immediately-impacted people knew I was having a baby, of course. And my close clients. But most of you didn’t. I have been openly blogging here about my life...

On Integrity in Business with Michael e. Stern
Podcast #401 is a new conversation with a favorite guest, Michael e. Stern, on the role integrity has played in his 40 years in business as a creative professional and photographer.

A Simple Way to Eliminate Imposter Syndrome
In this video, I shared a new idea about how to build a marketing machine that eliminates feast or famine by keeping your pipeline full enough to be picky about...

How to Use Your Birthday as a Marketing Tool
People love birthdays, theirs, of course, but also yours! So I'm encouraging everyone to use their birthday as a marketing tool. Anyone can do it so here are my top...

Should You Really Forget Funnels? A chat with L...
Podcast #400 is a meaty conversation with one of my favorite guests, Lisa Mullis of Paraphrase Communications. You see, I’ve been ranting lately about the "automation bandwagon" that so many...
[Guest post] Should every print piece have a we...
If you're a designer with a print background and want to web-enable a printed piece, here are some tips from web designer, Jill Anderson, of JillLynnDesign.com
Considering one of the many technology niches?
In this video, Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, breaks down the huge technology niche into a few of its sub-niches -- fintech, biotech, pubtech, martech, and shows a few trade associations...
[Guest post] What is good listening?
What is it to truly listen? And is it something you can learn to do better? Brand coach and designer, Sandra Koenig, shares what she's learned about becoming a better...
How to Pitch Yourself as a Podcast Guest with F...
Podcast #399 is a conversation with Francis Nayan, a copywriter who pitched himself as a podcast guest to me. He shared how he chooses who to pitch to, how much...
How to Go In House & Keep Your Personal Brand A...
Podcast #397 In part 2 of my conversation on the Marketing Mentor Podcast with marketing strategist, Elke Giba, we talked about what it’s like to close a 10 year old business...
Join the "Blogust" Blogging Challenge
It's not too late to join the "blogust" Blogging Challenge initiated by Melanie the Marketer. All you have to do is write 4 posts by August 31. That's it. We're...
Forget Funnels (a rant)
If you're tired of automated messages that have nothing to do with you, lead magnets and opt-ins that force you to download an ebook before you even know if you...
Your Pricing is a Marketing Tool [QTMM 7-21-20]
Have you noticed my 2 main topics on this blog are pricing & marketing (which includes content marketing)? Wanna know why? They're inextricably connected. Perhaps you feel this connection without being fully aware...
Is the Grass Greener In House?
Podcast #397 A conversation with Strategic Marketing Director, Elke Giba. Want to know what it’s like to be an in-house marketer who outsources to creative professionals? It’s not often I get to...
Where to find virtual networking events
One silver lining of the pandemic is that now you can network with colleagues, prospects and clients without leaving your house. Most of my clients are doing more networking than...
How (and What) to Delegate with Melanie the Mar...
I know delegating is easier said than done, especially for creative pros who sometimes like to control things. But what if you could find someone really good and you train them to...

Why Money’s on My Mind All the Time
Melanie (the marketer) Deardorff always has money on her mind — and, often, it's money-related worries. Though she knows these thoughts will never go away entirely, she's working to make...

How one designer stopped writing huge tax checks
Here's the latest guest blog post from web designer, Jill Anderson of Jill Lynn Design, a long time Marketing Mentor client who's often sharing what she's learned about running...
What is a "brand coach?"
Podcast #395 Designers who Coach with Sandra Koenig I recently wrote that, during the pandemic, several designers I’ve been working with have taken the opportunity to evolve their business toward...
Reframing + Sagacious Delay = Something Much Be...
I know 2020 has been weird and crazy and for some pretty awful. But could it also be the best thing that ever happened to your business?That's one way to...
Handling Personal Crisis When You’re Self Employed
Podcast Episode #394: Personal Crisis When You’re Self Employed with Jeanine Davis Have you ever had an experience, an emotional experience or traumatic or life-changing experience, and felt like you...
Which attitude do you bring to your work?
There are 2 ways to approach your work: as order taker (an employee mindset) or as strategic partner (an entrepreneurial mindset). And it doesn’t really matter who’s signing your paycheck...
Need help crafting calls-to-action?
I just updated and re-launched an oldie-but-goodie from my website. It’s a comprehensive post on how to do calls-to-action on your website! I recommend having two, not just one, because...
Are you procrastinating or....?
Should we be sending out email newsletters and posting on social media when the world is on fire? Should we use these platforms for messages that go beyond marketing? That's...
Does your creative business need a budget?
Podcast Episode #393: Budgets & Bankruptcy with Ean Murphy In today’s episode of the MarketingMentorPodcast.com, I talked with Ean Murphy of Moxie Bookkeeping and Coaching about budgets (yours) and bankruptcy (hers)....
Is It Time to Reframe Your Business?
Most of the time, I think of my business as a journey of personal development, through which I learn and grow up a little bit more every day, while having...
Do You Yearn for Your Clients to Love You?
Podcast Episode #392: On the Signs of Strong Client Relationships with Michael e. Stern In the latest podcast chat with my old friend, veteran creative professional and photographer, Michael e. Stern,...
[Case Study] How Mikel Found the Focus and Fram...
By Mikel Martinez, Mikel Media Marketing Mentor Resources I discovered Ilise Benun on the Unemployable podcast’s How to Earn More on Every Project with Tiered Pricing episode. I immediately...
[Podcast] #391 Pandemic derail your plans? Not ...
You were off to a great start. First quarter of 2020 was almost over and this was going to be your year! And then, well, you know what happened. Now your plans...
What Not To Do With Your Ideal Client
Here's a guest post by Alice Watts, copywriter for pension industry As a relatively new copywriter, it’s very exciting when your ideal client somehow finds you on LinkedIn and wants...
Lost wallet…found perspective
Well, my goodness! Quite the whirlwind, isn’t it? When news of COVID-19 started unfolding, I felt very uncertain like most of us. (Ilise nailed it when she said it feels like...
Do You Have A Chair? [QTMM 4-20-20]
It feels to me like we're playing a global game of musical chairs. For some the music has stopped and you have no chair. For others, the music is slowly...
[Podcast] How to Strengthen Your Financial Heal...
For obvious reasons, I’ve been thinking and writing lately about what makes a healthy business. At the moment, a lot of people are discovering that their business isn’t as healthy...
3 things that will make your business healthy
One thing has become clear in the last month: a healthy business is an essential. By healthy, I mean: Your mindset is clear and positive and flexible, always on the...
It's so quiet [QTMM 3-30-20]
It is very quiet here in my little corner of the world. And while I'm not actually less busy, the frantic "busy-ness" is gone. I'm spending more time thinking and cooking.And,...
[Video] Beyond the Basics of LinkedIn
Thanks to the one and only Melanie "The Marketer" Deardorff, who shared some excellent "pro tips" about LinkedIn at the recent Office Hours group coaching session (part of the Simplest...