1/8/25


KISS (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”) is wise communications advice packaged in a memorable way.


It resonates so much with my small business clients that I’ve created a few similar quick-hitters. This advice applies both when your company is sharing news and when you’re generally enhancing brand awareness.


Keep It Pithy, People (KIPP) – Less is more. Write short sentences. When possible, rely more on strong visuals and less on words.


Keep It Consistent, Clients (KICC) – Communicate the same core message to all of your audiences (employees, customers, the media, the public). Add or subtract details as necessary.


Keep It Genuine, Gang (KIGG) – Your message will resonate more if you believe in what you’re saying.


Keep It Flowing, Friends (KIFF) – The cliché that “perfect is the enemy of good” applies to communications coming from small businesses. It’s important to avoid typos and grammatical errors. Beyond that, not every one of your internal emails and social media captions needs to be Pulitzer-worthy.


I also developed a personal mantra, Keep It Moving, Megan (KIMM), for the new year. It's my reminder to evolve, grow and enjoy my solopreneurial journey!



11/14/24


Avoid 4 common communications mistakes made by small businesses.

Mistake #1: Not telling your employees things first. Morale will plummet if employees are blindsided by learning company news from a friend, social media post or news article rather than from you.

How to avoid it: Share important company news, updates or changes with your employees before your customers and the general public.

Mistake #2: Inconsistent branding. You’ll confuse your current and prospective customers.

How to avoid it: Ensure your name, logo, colors and messaging are consistent across all platforms, from your website and social media to your marketing materials and customer interactions. Veering off in different directions may be tempting at times, but resist the urge!

Mistake #3: Overcomplicating your writing and design. Whether you are creating a social media post or crafting a customer letter, simple is almost always better.

How to avoid it: Keep most of your sentences between 15 and 20 words. Avoid industry jargon. If your design is DIY, understand your limitations. Go minimalist and stick to your brand guidelines.

Mistake #4: Neglecting social media. Love it or hate it, social media is one of the things people (including prospective customers and employees) check out when interested in your company. You’ve gotta be there!

How to avoid it: Choose two or three platforms that are the best fit for your company. Commit to posting on them. (If you struggle to think of subject matter, use an AI tool like Google Gemini to help generate ideas that are relevant to your industry and audiences.)

Avoid errors, maximize your impact. You've got this!


10/28/24

DIY communications tools can empower small businesses to make a 𝗯𝗶𝗴 impact. 💪


It may seem obvious to those of us immersed in comms full-time, but it’s a welcome surprise to my smallest business clients.


Here are some of the easy-to-use tools that I love to recommend because they help create more polished communications items (and boost a brand!) at little or no cost.


𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗮.𝗰𝗼𝗺 – Free online graphic design tool that can be used to create social media posts, presentations and more.


𝗪𝗮𝘃𝗲.𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 – Easy platform for making and editing videos, even if you have no previous experience.


𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗿.𝗰𝗼𝗺 – “Freelance talent at your fingertips.” Choose among thousands of freelancers at different rates to help produce a logo, blog post and more.


𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝘁 (techsmith.com/snagit/) - Snipping tool that easily grabs screenshots and records your screen.


𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶 – AI has gained steam quickly, but many small businesses still haven’t experimented with it much. I recommend my clients start out using Gemini for simple things like:

• Summarizing meeting notes

• Generating social media post ideas & caption options

• Drafting marketing copy


I've found that when a small business client recognizes the value in DIY comms tools, one employee takes the initiative and puts in the time necessary to learn to use them well. Cheers and kudos to all the "do it yourselfers" out there!