The Good And Bad Ways To Use AI In Small Business Marketing

How One Business Owner Turned A Book Into Clients, Credibility, And Revenue

$48,000 in two weeks sounds like a book sales story, until you hear the truth: only $710 came from selling copies. What changed everything was treating the book as a marketing tool that drives real business revenue, not as the revenue itself. We share the behind the scenes strategy of how becoming “an author” can instantly upgrade your positioning, shorten the trust gap with prospects, and give you a clear reason to follow up without sounding salesy. We talk through the mindset shift that makes a business book a lead magnet: credibility and visibility first, conversions second. You will hear how a single book can open doors to speaking engagements, workshops, podcast interviews, and media opportunities, plus how each chapter can become its own talk or training. We also get specific about launch execution, including using a network of local influencers, creating ready to post snippets, leveraging PR for TV and radio, and turning every appearance into reusable content for social media marketing and SEO. Then we break down where the money actually came from: raising prices with confidence, signing new retainer contracts, selling website projects, booking branding shoots, and finally getting paid for trainings that used to be “exposure.” The bigger takeaway is long term: if you keep showing up after launch day, your book becomes a durable brand asset that keeps generating inbound leads, authority, and opportunities months later. If you are writing a book to grow your business, build your personal brand, or land more speaking gigs, this is the playbook. Subscribe for more creator and entrepreneur strategies, share this with a friend who is stuck in perfection mode, and leave a review with your biggest book launch question. Order "Market Like a Boss" at www.shelbysmarketingbook.com

The Good And Bad Ways To Use AI In Small Business Marketing

AI is already in your customers’ feeds, your competitors’ workflows, and probably your own browser history, so the real question is whether you’ll use it with intention or let it dilute your brand. Shelby McFarland, marketing boss at The Marketing Broker, shares a grounded take on AI for small business marketing: what’s helpful, what’s overhyped, and what can quietly make your business look like everyone else. We get specific about the “don’ts,” especially AI-generated graphics and AI logos. If your social media suddenly looks inconsistent, busy, or off-brand, it’s often because AI design output isn’t truly customized to your templates, colors, and style system. And when it comes to logos, Shelby explains why print work and signage require real vector files (SVG, AI, vector PDF) and why “ChatGPT says it’s vectorized” doesn’t hold up when you need professional resolution on a sign, vehicle, or storefront. Then we move into the “do’s,” including how Shelby uses ChatGPT daily (yes, she named it Karen) as a collaboration tool for brainstorming, content strategy, pitching ideas, package pricing, and thinking through ad spend decisions. The takeaway is simple: AI works best when you combine it with your experience and judgment instead of copying generic outputs. If you want smarter marketing without losing what makes your business recognizable, listen now, subscribe, and share this with a business owner who’s still on the fence. After you listen, leave a review and tell us: what are you using AI for every day?

What Crisis Reveals About Your Business Plan

One day you’re grinding 60 to 70 hours a week and planning expansion. The next day the world shuts down, your clients panic, and your business has to reinvent itself before the bills hit. I’m Shelby McFarland, the marketing boss, and I’m telling the real story of how I survived the COVID years as both a sign shop owner and a digital marketing broker. You’ll hear how opening a second sign shop location in Stuttgart, Arkansas felt like a smart risk in January 2020 and quickly turned into a pressure test when lockdowns and curfews hit. I share what we did to keep serving customers safely, what it felt like to be seen as “outsiders,” and the unexpected pivot that kept cash flowing: mass-producing social distancing decals, “mask required” signage, and six-foot floor stickers. That one product opened doors to restaurants and roughly 25 school districts, creating relationships that lasted beyond the crisis. Then we get into the hard truths: why 2021 was tougher than 2020, why I chose to shut down the second location, and what I learned about strategic planning, financial benchmarks, and building a backup plan before taking the next leap. On the marketing side, I talk about losing around 75% of my clients when companies cut marketing budgets first, and how I now frame marketing as an investment that protects momentum and revenue. If you run a small business, manage a marketing budget, or you’re thinking about expanding, this is your playbook for surviving disruption with clearer eyes. Subscribe, share this with a business friend, and leave a review if it helps, what’s one pivot you’d make if your market changed overnight?

Human Connection Driven LinkedIn Marketing For Entrepreneurs

LinkedIn can feel like a noisy room full of “experts,” automation, and awkward cold DMs. We want to cut through that with something more useful: what’s working right now when you’re a real person trying to grow a business, land better opportunities, or build a personal brand without turning into a corporate robot. Shelby McFarland talks with LinkedIn specialist Katie Rasure about the surprising strategy that keeps paying off: human connection. We get into why giving away helpful information for free doesn’t scare off buyers, it attracts them. Katie shares how she leaned on LinkedIn after graduating during the pandemic, how consistency helped her get noticed, and how local networking events accelerated everything once she got out of her comfort zone. If you’ve ever hit a wall, burned out, or thought “I just want a simple job and to disappear for a while,” her path will feel familiar and encouraging. Then we go practical: how to write LinkedIn posts that people actually read, why storytelling and “Facebook with a business twist” beats stiff professionalism, and how often to post without wrecking your sanity. We also unpack what to ignore: trend-chasing advice that mainly benefits big creators, overposting, and AI-driven outreach that kills trust. You’ll learn a cleaner approach to B2B prospecting on LinkedIn: comment with value, connect with intention, and message like a human. We even talk reposting, timing, and how to use scheduling without losing the engagement LinkedIn rewards. Subscribe for more honest marketing conversations, share this with a friend who’s stuck on LinkedIn, and leave a review so more business owners can find us. What’s one LinkedIn change you’re going to try this week? Order "Market Like a Boss" at www.shelbysmarketingbook.com

Inside A Women’s Business Showcase

A packed room, quick questions, and the kind of answers you only get when people stop performing and start telling the truth. We’re in Conway, Arkansas at a Women in Business Showcase talking with founders, operators, and creators across interior design, events, yoga, HVAC, construction, insurance, counseling, accounting, law, and more. The focus isn’t hype, it’s what actually helps women build a business and keep their life intact while doing it.  You’ll hear how entrepreneurs recover from burnout by planning real downtime, why networking still beats most “growth hacks,” and what authentic content looks like when you’re a local service business trying to earn trust. We get into practical small business marketing like using real staff photos, keeping your posts rooted in your community, and being transparent when you get a negative review. Several guests also share what makes content grab their attention, from calming audio and nature vibes to quote-style visuals that let people read instead of being talked at.  The leadership and work-life balance insights land hard: balance isn’t a perfect split, it’s being where you’re needed when you’re needed. We talk about boundaries, delegating, asking for help, and why running a business can feel all-consuming. We also hit the essentials that protect your future: accounting clarity beyond your bank balance and the legal foundations you need before something goes wrong. If you want real talk, local wisdom, and practical takeaways for women entrepreneurs, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more builders can find these stories. Order "Market Like a Boss" at www.shelbysmarketingbook.com