S1:E2 How to Get Sh*t Done that Isn't "What You Do"
Meet your Season One Co-Host: Caitie Cupples
Caitie is a copywriter who bravely volunteered to be the first cohost and come with me in my messy journey to launch a podcast without overthinking it (too much).
In this episode, we focus on the business side to discuss how to get shit done that isn’t the primary thing you sell. As service providers, we have a specialty but we also have to do admin work, financials, inbox, show up on social, and do many other marketing things. We talk strategies for how Caitie figures it out in her business.
When your capacity is maxed out:
Be willing to let some balls drop
Understand your minimum viable to-do list
Knock out tiny tasks in one big batch
Daily planning
Time tracking to stay focused
Be willing to experiment to find the process that works for your brain and your business. This might mean changing tools or just changing the way you’re using certain tools. As mentioned in the episode, Caitie uses her Google Calendar for time blocking and Sunsama for planning, while Erin uses a similar approach but with calendar view in ClickUp.
While creating marketing posts on social media might be one of the first things to get dropped when she’s busy, Caitie does have an approach when she is able. Starting with Threads first because it feels like less pressure and then she’ll look for top performing ones that can be turned into a newsletter, blog post or Instagram feed post.
Caitie also hosts Work on Your Own Stuff Wednesday, where she coworks for an hour with other business owners to knock out a few things on her own to-do list.
Another method that may be helpful is the “Grab Bag” coined by Xanthe Appleyard, where she creates a list of all the items she would like to do in a week but doesn’t slot them into a specific time, allowing her energy to guide what she is doing.
While marketing may be an easy thing to drop when capacity is crunched, it is a necessary evil for this online space. We discuss how Caitie shows up and is active with her audience and potential clients. While it can be hard, she tries to show up on Threads and watch Instagram stories actively and not passively. She does this on her computer rather than her phone so she can be more proactive about it rather than getting into mindless scrolling.
The other big item besides marketing that isn’t what she does is the Operations Admin. While still not perfect, she utilizes templates where she is able so her clients have a good experience. Eventually, outsourcing these items would be ideal, but for now, they work.
Tune in to the next episode to hear our conversation on contracting work to maintain your business.
To learn more about Caitie:
Website: www.caitiecupplescreative.com
Newsletter: www.caitiecupplescreative.com/subscribe
Instagram: www.instagram.com/caitiecupplescreative
SHOW NOTES
00:00 Introduction to Copywriting and Its Importance
01:52 The Role of Website Copy and When to Update
03:46 Collaboration with Designers and Other Professionals
05:53 Cohost Introduction
08:19 Personal Insights and Entrepreneurial Journey
10:58 Managing Business Tasks and Time Effectively
16:28 Effective Time Management Tools
17:28 Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs
21:15 Client Acquisition and Referrals
24:59 Enhancing Client Experience
28:30 Project Management and Workflow
Mentioned in the Episode:
Sunsama – Daily planning tool
Dubsado – Client management platform
Kristina Bleiler from Gem Creative Co
Katie from 26&then some
Caitie’s Husband's Business: https://codeuntold.com/
Work on Your Own Stuff Wednesday - Join for free
Passions Collective – Dubsado Templates
Amy, from Hello & Co on Making Google Docs look Cute - https://hellococreative.com/
I’m your host, Erin!
Systems pro, avid fiction reader, and new Portugal resident
It takes a minute to get to know the real me. So when I decided to start a podcast, I knew it had to be different than your usual show. While most guest-led episodes limit us to just one conversation, I wanted Two Desks Down to be more than that.
Here, you’ll learn you aren’t the only one having that problem, business advice from experts, and what books to add to your TBR.
two desks down
This is the small business podcast where you can drop in - just two desks down - to get advice from people who get it, make a new friend, and have some fun. Every season’s a new guest. Every episode is less than an hour. And every single one’s a good listen.
