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Hey Reader,

Sometimes I get confused...

Not about the work that I do.

Not about WHY I do the work I do, my offers or my vision for the future (I've got a killer brand strategy)!

What I get confused about is how I want to promote my work to the world.

As a branding expert, sometimes I feel like I also have to be a marketing expert. The two are not the same (I wrote an article about that here)!

Every small business owner is in charge of figuring out what works best for them.

You can have all the best assets in the world...a stand out brand, a gorgeous website, cute funnels...and you still need to figure out a way to get seen.

Your brand gets your foot in the door, your website gets dream clients to take action and your funnel nurtures and sells. All very important things!

But you need to be visible to get seen.

Social media. Podcasts. Webinars. Workshops. Ads. SEO. LinkedIn. Blog posts. YouTube. And more... All ways your brand can get you that second look!

There are so many damn options...and sometimes it feels like you have to be doing it all.

And that's what I meant when I said I'm feeling confused.

I literally know what I don't have to be doing it all, and I still feel like I have to be! UGH.

So what do I do when the confusion sets in?

I recently figured out that I need to ask myself this question: Am I consuming more than I've been creating?

Lately, the answer is yes.

I recently re-downloaded Instagram to my phone to upload my new static grid and I never deleted it. *Cue the doom scrolling and comparison spiral!*

Instead of reminding myself that the marketing strategies I'm currently using take time...I started doubting myself.

I've been inundated with girl boss content advice that I'm not selling enough in my emails...telling me that I should be pressing harder on pain points and pushing more on desired outcomes.

I was getting so much in my head that I posted my newsletter link into Claude to ask what I was missing.

It told me that while it was "cool and inspiring" that I was building in public and sharing my experiences, I clearly wasn't girl bossing hard enough. *Ahem* it also told me to push pain points and desired outcomes more.

Valid. But also...not.

I understand that I should maybe once in awhile sell a little more because "selling is serving," but I also just like to write and share my experiences.

While my work (brand strategy and design) is about helping YOU be the best version of yourself in your business...my life's MISSION is to inspire and empower you to do that in whatever way works for you!

I really like sharing my messy, unfiltered thoughts about being a small business owner but in a still "looks like I have my sh*t together" way.

Maybe it's wrong (at least according to AI), that I write about my experiences more than I sell to you in these emails, but I'm going to keep doing it my way!

There are a lot of "rules" around what works in marketing, but what I've learned in my many years is that they don't always work for everyone.

There are times when breaking the rules is actually the best decision you can make.

Like when an entire industry is into beige brands and you barge in with a hot pink and lime green brand.

You get noticed.

You get noticed because you are a disruptor.

And so...maybe that's why you ARE here?!

Maybe you're actually here because I'm NOT sending out weekly tips and tricks or 5 sales emails a week?

If my newsletter comes across like I don't care about money, maybe it's because I actually don't care about money.

It's a stupid patriarchal construct. Seriously...f*ck capitalism.

But also I need money. I live in THIS world, not the one I fantasize about in my head.

A world where human needs are met first...and we care about others and the planet more than hustling and making money. I believe that world is possible.

In order to play my part in creating that world, I need to be well resourced. I need to make money.

But I'm not going to make money playing by the same rules as the people who want to uphold the current system.

I just want you to be yourself.

I want you to do the work you love.

And I want you to have more time to do the non-work stuff you love.

So do it your way!

Also...just to be clear. I'm not against sales emails. You'll probably get one from me now and then. I want you to want to work with me!

But my bi-weekly newsletter? It's about inspiring and empowering you. I like to share real sh*t, because I'm a real human. And I'm feeling pretty good about that!

I you get anything from this email...let it be your reminder to create more than you consume!

Emily 💋

Ready for the sell? I'm NOW BOOKING: Brand Intensives! Book yours today!

👉 Reading for the full brand experience?! Email me or book a discovery call here.

xo Emily Lauren (she/her) Missed a previous email? Catch up here!​