damselfly digital

"Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” Steve Jobs I have worked in marketing for nearly 20 years and I STILL feel like I haven't mastered it. There are days where it feels like my head is spinning with ideas and decisions and options. This is an incredibly complicated and complex, even for someone who has been doing it for a while.

“If you don’t toot your own horn, don’t complain that there’s no music.” Guy Kawasaki There’s a strange paradox in the marketing world: some of the people (ME!) who are best at growing other people’s businesses really struggle to market their own. We can develop a strategy, clarify a brand, create compelling content, attract customers, and generate impressive results for clients—and then completely blank when it’s time to do the same for ourselves. If this sounds familiar, yo

"If people like you, they'll listen to you, but if they trust you, they'll do business with you." Zig Ziglar One of the biggest mistakes business owners and content creators make is trying to be someone they're not. They mimic trending creators, force themselves into videos that feel stiff and performative, or assume every piece of content has to educate in the same way. The result? Content that feels flat, inconsistent, or inauthentic. The truth is that the most successful c

“The most important trait of a writer is an authentic voice. Cherish your own voice. Don’t try to sound like anybody else.” Anne Rice As artificial intelligence floods the internet with faster, cheaper content, something unfortunate is happening: Everyone is beginning to sound the same. Every day, millions of blog posts, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, and emails are generated with the same handful of prompts that results in content that is grammatically correct, polished, safe,

The problem with spending 15-20 years in marketing and communications from agencies to in-house, nonprofit to small business, is that I became the epitome of the generalist—someone who can think strategically and execute across channels. When I first started freelancing, so many people recommended me to “just pick one thing”. Cue the resistance. The grief. The quiet panic of feeling like I've being asked to abandon a career you worked hard to build. Did you know that Nobel Pr

“What’s the point if you make something that’s not you?” Gloria Estefan We’ve all experienced it by now—that subtle cringe when reading something that says all the “right” things… and yet somehow says nothing at all. It’s clean. It's polished. It’s structured. It’s optimized. And it’s completely flat and formulaic, and thus- relatively forgettable. As AI-generated content is becoming more and more common, consumers are practicing the human art of discernment and responding (

"The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it's a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk. Use your natural powers -- of persistence, concentration, and insight -- to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems. make art, think deeply. Spend your free time the way you like.” Susan Cain In a culture obsessed with personal branding, selfies, and constant visibility, it can feel like the only way to succeed online is to put your fac

"The job of the strategist is to understand and cope with competition.” Michael E. Porter In entrepreneurship, we’re often taught to think about business as one giant competition. Who has the biggest audience? Who ranks higher? Who charges more? Who is getting more press, followers, clients, or attention? But the goal isn’t to constantly draw comparisons in order to"beat" your competitors. It's simply to understand the landscape well enough to find your own place within it. F

“Content is the atomic particle of all digital marketing.” Rebecca Lieb These days a content calendar isn’t enough. You need a complete content ecosystem—a living, breathing strategy built with clarity, intention, and consistency. If your sales and conversions feel scattered or inconsistent in its results, it’s likely because you're skipping or rushing key steps. Most brands make the mistake of jumping to execution (Step 4) before even establishing goals (Step 1), resulting i

“If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” Warren Buffett The new American dream is having an income that is completely independent of your location and time. As a subject matter expert, your knowledge holds value and is the core asset from which your services and products are developed. Leverage this by creating and monetizing educational content, literally making you money while you sleep. In this post I'll share how you can tra

“People don’t attend events for information—they attend for connection.” Joe Lazauskas Event marketing is equal parts strategy, storytelling, and logistics. When it’s done well, an event doesn’t just fill seats—it builds trust, strengthens community, and extends your brand’s impact long after the last attendee leaves. When it’s done poorly, even the most beautiful concept can feel chaotic, under-attended, or forgettable. Whether you’re planning a small workshop, a large conf

“Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.” Seth Godin In a world of AI-generated content, shrinking attention spans, and declining trust, narrative is one of the last real differentiators left. Not volume. Not speed. Not hacks. Good old-fashioned STORY. Storytelling isn’t about being wordy, clever or creative for the sake of it. At its core, it’s actually about clarity and credibility. It’s how brands and organizations: earn trust

“Dollars flow where the friction is low.” Brian Halligan In business—as in nature—energy flows where there is the least resistance. Just...

“The power of persuasion lies in understanding the subconscious factors that drive human behavior.” Robert Cialdini Understanding the psychology behind why people make decisions is crucial for effective branding, marketing and overall organizational growth. Buying isn’t just about logic—it’s deeply tied to emotional and subconscious motivations. This blog explores the core reasons people buy, marketing tactics that tap into these reasons, and actionable examples to increase s

Real buyer journeys are rarely linear, neat and tidy. They’re unpredictable, messy. Just like humans. For years, marketers have been taught to think of funnels as neat, linear pathways: But the reality is that buyers are not robots and rarely go straight from awareness to purchase. The journey takes the right mix of timing, strategy and psychology. Today’s consumer may skim your About page, see a social post six weeks later, disappear for months, and then suddenly message you

"Content repurposing is about getting the maximum return from every single piece of content you create." Amy Woods As a soulpreneur, your time, energy, and creativity are sacred. You’re not just selling a product or service—you’re offering healing, wisdom, transformation, and truth. But sharing your message online consistently can feel overwhelming, especially when you're also managing clients, creating offerings, and taking care of your own energy. The good news? You don’t n

"The purpose of your life is to discover your Gift. The work of your life is to develop it. The meaning of your life is to give your gift away. David Viscott As an entrepreneur, having a compelling personal brand and digital presence isn’t optional—it’s essential. Your job is to make sure your personality, voice and services stand out so that you're top of mind when your customer is ready to buy. Whether you’re attracting clients, applying for jobs, or pitching yourself to th

“If you want to be understood—repeat. If you want to be remembered—repeat. If you want to create impact—repeat.” Donald Miller Worried about sounding like a broken record as you self-promote? It's all in your head. Chances are that only a tiny percentage of your audience will see each post you share — which means you can confidently assume most of your audience hasn't seen an individual post. In a world saturated with endless content and innovation, it’s easy to believe we a

The internet is a powerful platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow, connect, and thrive. It offers endless opportunities to build your brand, reach a wider audience, and share your unique perspective. Unfortunately as you build your digital presence, you also open yourself up to many unsupportive critics or toxic people who aim to undermine your efforts. In this post I'll share how to protect your inner peace, and your brand, on the digital battlefield. Have a

"If e "A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers." Hellen Keller In a rapidly evolving job market, continuous learning is a vital skill for staying competitive and confident in your career. Epistemophobia—the fear of knowledge is a disease affecting many. This fear can lead people to cling to simplistic explanations or avoid challenging ideas, which in turn hold back individuals, groups and communities. At its core, lifelong learning isn’t just about a