Inside A Women’s Business Showcase

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

You Don’t Need More Leads, You Need More Conversations

If you’ve ever paid for marketing and still felt like nothing changed, we’re saying the quiet part out loud: marketing can’t replace selling. Shelby McFarlane sits down with Arkansas insurance agent Nick Tubberville to unpack the difference between being visible and actually closing business, especially in industries where you’re selling something intangible like insurance coverage or digital marketing services. We talk about what really moves the needle when the phone isn’t ringing: community involvement, shaking hands, and starting more conversations even when people are busy and distracted. Nick shares how relationship selling beats “perfect scripts,” why prospects ghost instead of saying no, and how trust can win business even when you’re not the cheapest option. We also dig into the reality of local marketing fundamentals like Google Business Profile, reviews, and SEO, plus what it means now that AI tools are reading and summarizing the internet for customers. Then we get into the messy middle: training new salespeople, surviving the first week of onboarding chaos, and building a culture of accountability when numbers slip. Nick lays out a practical reset plan with one-on-ones, weekly goals, tracking, and coaching, along with a candid take on lead generation. Buying leads may feel “easy,” but the math can be brutal when close rates are low. If you want a clearer sales process, smarter marketing expectations, and a more grounded way to grow a local business, hit play, then subscribe, share this with an owner who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Order "Market Like a Boss" at www.shelbysmarketingbook.com