The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations

126 | My Best Summer Marketing Tips for Burnt-Out Business Owners (I'm Cutting My Own Marketing in Half!)

Summer is officially here. Which means it's time to figure out how you're actually going to market your business for the next few months, when fewer people are online, your analytics dip, and everyone's outside touching grass instead of refreshing the feed. Here's the move most people make when they see their analytics dip: double down and push harder. And honestly? That can work. But this year, I'm doing the opposite. I'm cutting my own marketing almost in half. On purpose.  In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what I'm keeping, what I'm dropping, and why scaling back strategically might be the smartest summer marketing decision you make (because going dark is the worst thing you can do). Most of our businesses have seasonal fluctuations whether we like it or not. Capacity dips, trips happen, and the content that felt easy in spring starts to feel like a slog by July.  The good news? You don't have to grind through it. There's a version of summer marketing that keeps you visible, keeps you sane, and actually makes your business look more magnetic, not less. If you've been feeling stretched thin, guilty about the platform you keep ignoring, or quietly burnt out on making content, consider this your permission slip. I'll show you how to pick what to drop before summer picks for you, and how to market in a way that actually feels fun again. 🎙️ In This Episode: * The two ways to handle summer marketing (and why I'm choosing the less obvious one) * My one-awareness-platform + one-nurture-platform minimum for staying visible without the overwhelm * Exactly what I'm keeping, pausing, and cutting this summer, and the honest reasons why * Why making your life look fun is the best summer marketing tip I've got * The AI setup that writes a week of my content without me typing a single prompt * How to keep summer light while still quietly setting up your Q4 Links Mentioned:  * Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/126 [https://thekarareport.com/126] * Tune into episode 113 with Sabrina Gebhardt on building a business you can embody: https://thekarareport.com/113 [https://thekarareport.com/113] * My episode with Enji in case you're seeing this and you didn't market your business over the summer: https://thekarareport.com/87 [https://thekarareport.com/87] * Join the waitlist for my AI blogging membership: https://thekarareport.com/waitlist [https://thekarareport.com/waitlist] * Download my private podcast, Build It Once, Get Found For Months: https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast [https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast] * Hire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/blogging [https://thekarareport.com/blogging] * Our Pinterest Management Services: https://thekarareport.com/pinterest [https://thekarareport.com/pinterest] * Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services [https://thekarareport.com/services]  * Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport  [https://instagram.com/thekarareport]

125 | The Sales Strategy Being Passed Around in Private Coaching Rooms Right Now

The online business landscape has shifted — and the strategies that are actually working right now? They're not showing up in anyone's public content. In this episode, I'm sharing the real conversations happening behind the scenes in masterminds and private coaching rooms — the advice that business coaches are giving their highest-paying clients but nobody's talking about publicly.  Spoiler: it's not sexy. But it's working. We're in a different era of online business. The sophisticated buyer is here, passive income hype is fading fast, and the tactics that felt effortless in 2020 and 2021 are just not hitting the same way. The good news? The shift that's happening is actually pretty human — and if you're willing to do the unsexy work, there's a real opportunity here. If you've been wondering why your launches feel harder than they used to, or you're noticing that buyers seem more skeptical than ever, this episode will help you understand what's actually going on — and what to do about it. 🎙️ In This Episode: * Why the online business landscape feels harder right now (and why it's not just you) * The 2017 era vs. 2020 era vs. now — and what's actually coming back * The two real examples of unsexy follow-up strategies that closed sales * Why boundaries are softening and what that means for how you sell * Why you need both a strong traffic strategy AND a strong conversion strategy now Links Mentioned:  * Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/125 [https://thekarareport.com/125] * Listen to Julie Chenell's podcast "Million Dollar Grit" where she talks about Jessi Jean's 1.2 million dollar launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Kcuyhm2tE&list=PLJVVs4nTpFcKRIBlDzJq7VQlibtRyciY8&index=2 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Kcuyhm2tE&list=PLJVVs4nTpFcKRIBlDzJq7VQlibtRyciY8&index=2] * Join the waitlist for my AI blogging membership: https://thekarareport.com/waitlist [https://thekarareport.com/waitlist] * Download my private podcast, Build It Once, Get Found For Months: https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast [https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast] * Hire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/blogging [https://thekarareport.com/blogging] * Our Pinterest Management Services: https://thekarareport.com/pinterest [https://thekarareport.com/pinterest] * Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services [https://thekarareport.com/services]  * Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport  [https://instagram.com/thekarareport]

124 | Is Blogging Dead After 2026?! How AI Is Affecting Blogging (+ Is It Still Worth It?)

Think blogging is dead in 2026? Before you ditch long-form content for TikTok and Reels, watch this. The truth is… the biggest names in tech are doubling down on SEO, AI models are hungry for high-quality website content, and small business owners who start blogging now are about to unlock a massive advantage. In this video, I break down why blogging is not outdated — it’s evolving. You’ll learn how AI, voice search, and shifting buyer behavior are reshaping content discovery, and why your blog might be the most powerful brand-building engine you create in 2026. I’ll also share three simple action steps you can take this week to finally start (or restart) your blog with confidence. Whether you want more leads, more visibility, or a sustainable way to repurpose content across platforms, this is your sign to treat your blog like the strategic asset it is. ✨ If you're serious about being seen, trusted, found, and paid — this one’s for you. ✨ Ready to go deeper? Get access to my private podcast and behind-the-scenes marketing insights you won’t hear anywhere else: 👉 https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast 🔗 Links Mentioned: Adobe to acquire SEMRush: https://news.adobe.com/news/2025/11/adobe-to-acquire-semrush Backlinko article: https://backlinko.com/llm-seeding My favorite keyword research tool: https://thekarareport.com/keysearch 🎉WORK WITH THE KARA REPORT🎉 Want to work together and enjoy having (way less) on your plate? Find our pricing and service options below ⬇️ Pinterest & Blogging Packages *Best Results*: https://thekarareport.com/blogging-and-pinterest-marketing-agency DFY Blogging for SEO: https://thekarareport.com/blogging Pinterest Management: https://thekarareport.com/pinterest 📌 What I Use In My Business 📌 Enji marketing software: https://thekarareport.com/enji Best Brand Blueprint for ChatGPT: https://thekarareport.com//brand-blueprint Pinterest-Approved Scheduler: https://thekarareport.com/tailwind Riverside for Podcasting: https://thekarareport.com/riverside  Fave Podcast Host (Get a $20 Credit): https://thekarareport.com/buzzsprout  Website Template: https://thekarareport.com/emshowit  Dubsado CRM (get 20% off): https://thekarareport.com/dubsado *ABOUT THE KARA REPORT* Hey, I’m Kara—a marketer, blogger, entrepreneur, and the CEO behind The Kara Report. I love about breaking down marketing, business, and search-driven growth strategies (like blogging for SEO and Pinterest) in a way that actually makes sense (and hopefully doesn’t put you to sleep). Whether it’s writing, content marketing, or scaling a business, I love finding what works and sharing it with people who are just as obsessed with big ideas and smart strategies as I am. When I’m not deep-diving into marketing trends, you’ll probably find me brainstorming my next big project or fueling up on way too much coffee. Want to work together? You'll find me BTS at The Kara Report, a content marketing agency offering DFY marketing services like: website copy, email copywriting, podcast management, and our personal favorites: Pinterest marketing and blogging for SEO. Follow Me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport  Affiliate Disclaimer Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

123 | Your Brain Is Sabotaging Your Marketing (+ 7 Signs to Prove It And How To Fix It) with Tayler Cusick-Hollman

You have the ideas. You've always had the ideas. They're sitting in a Google Doc somewhere, probably called something like "Q3 Content Plan," last opened months ago and somehow nothing in it has ever actually gotten published. Today's guest Tayler Cusick-Hollman would tell you that's not an ideas problem. It's a brain problem. And once you understand what's actually happening, you can do something about it. Taylor is the co-founder of Enji [https://thekarareport.com/enji], a project management tool built specifically for small business owners doing their own marketing — and she has a background in psychology and sociology that makes her unusually good at explaining the very human reasons why marketing keeps not getting done. She walks through seven signs that prove you don't need more marketing ideas, and I'll warn you: at least a couple of these are going to feel uncomfortably familiar. This one is worth a listen if you've ever sat down to work on your marketing and somehow ended up doing everything except the actual marketing. 🎙️ In This Episode: * Why capturing ideas feels like progress (and why your brain loves it so much) * The 7 signs that you don't have an ideas problem — you have an execution problem * What "structured procrastination" actually is and why creative entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable to it * What to change this week to actually move the needle Links Mentioned:  * Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/123 [https://thekarareport.com/123] * Join Enji (Affiliate Link - But Save $$ During Their Birthday Month!): https://thekarareport.com/enji [https://thekarareport.com/enji] * Follow Enji on Instagram: https://instagram.com/enji_co [https://www.instagram.com/enji_co] * Download my private podcast, Build It Once, Get Found For Months: https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast [https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast] * Hire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/blogging [https://thekarareport.com/blogging] * Our Pinterest Management Services: https://thekarareport.com/pinterest [https://thekarareport.com/pinterest] * Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services [https://thekarareport.com/services]  * Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport  [https://instagram.com/thekarareport]

122 | If I Had One Hour to Work on SEO, This Is Exactly What I'd Do

Most SEO advice assumes you have unlimited time. But what if you only have one hour? In this episode, I'm sharing exactly what I'd do with that hour (and it's probably not what you'd expect). Spoiler: I wouldn't tell you to write a blog post. Instead, I'm walking through the specific website SEO tasks that actually move the needle, require zero technical expertise, and can realistically get done in 60 minutes or less.  Whether you're brand new to SEO or just doing a tune-up, this episode will give you a clear action plan you can start today. 🎙️ In This Episode: * What NOT to do with your one hour (and why SEO rabbit holes are a trap) * The one page on your website that matters most for SEO * How to check your heading structure in five minutes with a free Chrome plugin * When to build out individual service pages and location landing pages * How to use Google Search Console to find quick wins in posts you've already written * One of the most underrated SEO moves Links Mentioned:  * Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/122 [https://thekarareport.com/122] *  Headings Map Chrome plugin: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/headingsmap/flbjommegcjonpdmenkdiocclhjacmbi?pli=1 [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/headingsmap/flbjommegcjonpdmenkdiocclhjacmbi?pli=1] * Check for broken links: https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com/ [https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com/] * Download my private podcast, Build It Once, Get Found For Months: https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast [https://thekarareport.com/private-podcast] * Hire us to write SEO-driven blog posts for you: https://thekarareport.com/blogging [https://thekarareport.com/blogging] * Our Pinterest Management Services: https://thekarareport.com/pinterest [https://thekarareport.com/pinterest] * Learn more about working with our marketing agency here: https://thekarareport.com/services [https://thekarareport.com/services]  * Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport  [https://instagram.com/thekarareport]