28: It’s Our Birthday! And We’re Celebrating On-Air

28: It’s Our Birthday! And We’re Celebrating On-Air

We have some big news AND it's our birthday, so we're doing something a little different today and doing a just-for-fun episode. First things first: Dianna has an announcement: baby boy is on the way, due at the end of August. We are so excited! And if that wasn't enough, we recently found out that our birthdays are only one day apart — Dianna's is June 28th and Joanna's is June 29th — and we had absolutely no idea until it came up in conversation recently. So naturally, we decided to dedicate an entire episode to celebrating! We’re not talking strategy today, and instead just sharing some fun birthday stories and having a good time. Topics We Cover * Dianna's big baby announcement (it's a boy!) * How we found out our birthdays are one day apart * Do we believe in the universe putting the right people in your path? * Astrology chit-chat * Are you a big birthday person or not? * The best birthday each of us has ever had * Birthday disaster stories * Kid birthdays vs. adult birthdays * Gifts vs. experiences * Birthday this or that: fancy dinner vs. takeout, trip vs. staycation, balloons vs. flowers, Happy Birthday sung at the restaurant or absolutely not Time Stamps 00:23 – Dianna's baby announcement 03:08 – Our birthdays are one day apart 04:42 – Do you believe in the universe putting people in your path? 05:28 – Astrology and cancer compatibility 06:30 – Baby's due in August — Leo or Virgo? 07:07 – Are you a big birthday person? 09:08 – Diana's best birthday: surprise party at 16 12:19 – Joanna's best birthday: Hawaii 13:23 – Birthday disaster stories 18:24 – Kid birthdays vs. adult birthdays 20:52 – Gifts vs. experiences 23:18 – Birthday this or that 26:43 – Random question: First movie in the theater Links & Resources Mentioned Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. [https://risecopyco.com/] — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative [https://joannamoss.com/] — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com

27: All Our Favorite Home Office Things, Oprah Style

You get a walking pad! You get a happy light! You get a candle! Okay, we're not actually giving anything away. But we are sharing all of our favorite home office things – the items we can't run our businesses without – Oprah style. In this episode, we're each sharing our favorite home office items, from the practical to the nice-to-have. Everything mentioned is linked in the show notes so you don't have to pause and take notes while you're listening! Time Stamps 06:02 – Joanna's favorite #1: Shure MV7 Plus microphone 08:52 – Joanna's favorite #2: Happy Light desk lamp 10:20 – Joanna's favorite #3: Walking pad 12:29 – Joanna's favorite #4: Standing desk 13:52 – Joanna's favorite #5: Clear acrylic monitor riser 16:01 – Dianna's favorite #1: Roost laptop stand 19:20 – Dianna's favorite #2: Everything is Figureoutable 21:09 – Dianna's favorite #3: Everybody Writes 23:52 – Dianna's favorite #4: Mini stepper 27:37 – Dianna's favorite #5: Plant the Box candle 31:07 – Random question of the episode Links & Products Mentioned Joanna's Favorites: * Shure MV7 Plus microphone [https://amzn.to/4vw2qbJ] * Happy Light desk lamp [https://amzn.to/3SrTq9g] * Walking pad [https://amzn.to/4uYbmad] * Standing desk base [https://amzn.to/43iGGUV] * Clear acrylic monitor riser [https://amzn.to/4vyKc9z] Dianna's Favorites: * Roost laptop stand [https://amzn.to/4ontWWF] * Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo [https://amzn.to/4eH6T4T] * Everybody Writes by Ann Handley [https://amzn.to/4eotLpD] * Mini stepper (with resistance bands) [https://amzn.to/4oljEpY] * Plant the Box candle by Kobo (Wild Tomato Vine scent) [https://amzn.to/4ejq8B9] Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative [https://joannamoss.com/] — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. [https://risecopyco.com/] — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com

26: 5 Brand Messaging Storytelling Secrets You Need to Know

The brands you can't stop thinking about aren't the ones with the best products. They're the ones that tell the best stories. In this episode, Dianna is in the hot seat, sharing everything she knows about brand storytelling and giving away five secrets behind what makes good copy actually work. If you've ever sat down to write your about page, your bio, or even just a social caption and completely frozen, this episode is for you! Remember that people don't want your resume, they want to know the moment everything clicked into place for you. That messy middle, and that's what people actually remember. Topics We Cover * Why it's so hard to write about your own business * The most common brand storytelling mistake * Your origin story is a transformation, not a timeline * The customer is the hero, and you're the guide * Why specificity is your secret weapon * Building a system of stories (not just one) * Real examples: Amy Porterfield, Jenna Kutcher, Airbnb, Jasmine Star * Dianna's own signature brand story * How to blend data and storytelling for maximum impact * Where storytelling matters most (websites, sales pages, email sequences) * The line between vulnerability and oversharing Time Stamps 04:15 – Why it's so hard to write about yourself 06:36 – The most common storytelling mistake 08:17 – Secret #1: Your origin story is a transformation 09:08 – Secret #2: The customer is the hero 12:53 – Secret #3: Specificity is your secret weapon 16:06 – Secret #4: Build a system of stories 19:45 – Real examples of signature stories 24:37 – Secret #5: Blend story with data 27:34 – Where storytelling matters most 29:57 – The vulnerability line 31:36 – Recap of all 5 secrets Links & Resources Mentioned Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. [https://risecopyco.com/] — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative [https://joannamoss.com/] — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com

25: Ask Us Anything! Answering Web Design & Copy FAQs

Ever wondered what to have ready before hiring a copywriter? Or how to know when its time to hire a web designer instead of DIYing your website? In this episode, we’re doing something a little different–an ask-me-anything style FAQ episode where we’re answering real questions from past clients and discovery calls. We’re answering everything you’d ever want to know about working with a website designer or website copywriter! In this episode: * What to have ready before you reach out to a copywriter * What to ask a designer before you hire them * The difference between good writing and good copy * When DIYing your website starts costing you more than hiring a pro * The #1 fear people have about outsourcing their copy (and why it's not something to worry about) * Why your website template isn't done yet — and what's actually getting in the way * When it's time to hand your copy off to a professional * What the design and copy process actually look like from the inside Links & resources mentioned: * Joanna's website project organizer freebie: https://joannamoss.com/resources [https://joannamoss.com/resources] * Joanna’s website design studio: Joanna Moss Creative [https://joannamoss.com/] / joannamoss.com * Dianna’s copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. [https://risecopyco.com/] / risecopyco.com Connect with us on Instagram: @brandunmutedpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/brandunmutedpodcast/]

24: How we balance showing up consistently without burning out

What if burnout isn't just part of being an entrepreneur? What if it's actually a warning sign you're ignoring? Today we're talking about something a lot of entrepreneurs don't want to admit they're dealing with: burnout. What it actually looks like, how to recover from it, and how to build a business that doesn't keep running you into the ground. Burnout is your body's warning sign that it's time to take a break. For most people, it's mental, but it can also manifest physically — you're more prone to getting sick, your body feels run down, and you're susceptible to illness. In this episode, we're sharing our own experiences with burnout, the first signs we notice, why entrepreneurs are especially prone to pushing through when they shouldn't, and what actually helps when you're burnt out. Topics We Cover * What burnout actually is * Do entrepreneurs throw the word "burnout" around too loosely? * Is burnout always related to working too much? * First signs of burnout (brain fog, exhaustion, short patience, dreading tasks you normally enjoy) * Do business owners convince themselves it's just a busy season when they shouldn't push through? * How to deal with burnout when you experience it * Why rest shouldn't become another to-do on your list * What we've done to prepare for or prevent future burnout * How to balance showing up consistently without burning out * Being overworked is NOT a sign you've made it * It's okay to take mental health days * Plan vacations at the beginning of the year * Create strong boundaries around work days Time Stamps 04:16 – What is burnout? 06:47 – Do entrepreneurs overuse the word burnout? 07:26 – Is burnout always work-related? 08:11 – First signs of burnout 10:15 – Do business owners push through when they shouldn't? 12:09 – How to deal with burnout 16:27 – Balancing rest without making it another task 18:19 – What we've done to prevent future burnout 20:34 – How to balance showing up consistently 22:08 – Takeaways: burnout isn't a badge of honor Links & Resources Mentioned Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co [https://risecopyco.com/]. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative [https://joannamoss.com/] — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com Episodes Referenced: * Episode 8 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/08-creating-boundaries-that-protect-your-business-and/id1851731793?i=1000747852123]: Setting Boundaries * Episode 16 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/16-is-work-life-balance-actually-achievable-as-an/id1851731793?i=1000758405662]: Is Work-Life Balance Actually Achievable as an Entrepreneur? Book Mentioned: * Project Hail Mary [https://amzn.to/4e3mrk3] (Book referenced in random question section of episode)