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Hi! I'm Amber.

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OOPS! Corrected Link: February 26 - Marketing Minute from McCulloch Communications

Hi Reader! I went outside without a coat on yesterday! In Chicago, this is what’s known as the “spring of deception!” I know it’s not going to last and we’ll be back to 15 degree days before the weather really turns, but it is SO NICE while it lasts!!! I hope you had a chance to get outside and enjoy the sunshine too! Today, I’m so excited to give you access to a Quarterly Customer Appreciation Checklist that we created based on the recommendations we’ve shared so far this month. It’s an easy...

Hi Reader! Valentine’s Day is practically here, and if you’re looking for a way to “show the love” to your customers and clients, today’s issue has a fabulous (and easy to implement!) idea! Of course, this isn’t just for Valentine’s. Showing appreciation for those who support you is an ongoing effort for small business owners (or should be!). So if it’s too stressful to think about doing this in time for Vday, then mark your calendar for another time/season/holiday that works better for you....

Hi Reader! Brrrrr. How are you doing with these arctic temps?! I secretly love winter days like this where you are basically forced to stay inside and take a break from all the usual activities. At its core that is the purpose of winter, isn’t it? To rest, turn inward, and prepare for the season of growth that inevitably follows. What’s true for ourselves is also true for our business! This is the time to reflect on the big questions related to your business and to start prepping and...

Hi Reader! I never realized how much I value sleep until I got a puppy. And wow - it makes ALL the difference in nearly every aspect of your life. Sadly - even though Fiona is 10 months old - we were still dealing with disrupted sleep almost nightly. I was barely functioning and something HAD to change. So this is what I did… I created a routine for Fiona (and for me!). Each night for the last week, I removed her food bowl and didn't feed her anything after 7:30 pm; we took her harness off...

Hi Reader! I did it! I turned in my last big project for the year! Woohoo! Now I just have my monthly clients to tend to and some end of year bookeeping, but the bulk of my work is done. I feel a profound sense of relief and am looking forward to a few weeks of relative downtime. How are you feeling right now? Most business owners I talk to are either super busy with their last big holiday push or have downshifted into a slower pace. No matter where you are, I have included some “reminders”...

Hi Reader! It’s another glorious November day! I had a great weekend - filled with magic shows and delicious French onion soup - and I feel invigorated to tackle the week ahead! Today, we’re talking about networking and how to make the most of it. But before we dive into that, I need your help! I started this newsletter a year ago with the intention of providing helpful, relevant tips and tools specifically tailored for small business owners. I wanted to save you some time and energy by...

Hi Reader! Good afternoon! I hope you had an amazing, restful weekend! I can’t believe we’re already into November and that means the end of the year is nigh. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about networking. I know it seems super random, but as I’ve been looking over my revenue from the past year, I couldn’t help but notice that a good percentage of my business came from referrals - from past clients, former coworkers, and from networking groups and activities that I participate in. So I...

Hi Reader! Happy almost Halloween! I can’t wait to see photos of you, your kids, and your pets all dressed up in your costumes flood my social feeds! The holiday season is traditionally when many people take time off work and schedule vacations. But as a small business owner - it can be difficult to disengage, enjoy the down time and still have your business run smoothly. And do you know what can be even harder?! When your assistant or freelancer goes on vacation and all of the work that you...

Hi Reader! Hey hey, it’s my birthday! Thank you for all the sweet messages! I took some time off this weekend to relax and am headed to the Art Institute and out for gelato as soon as I hit publish on this email! So let’s get to it! Today, we’re continuing our October content theme around outsourcing. Specifically, we’re talking about best practices for actually WORKING with your freelancer or new employee. The biggest thing I had to learn when I started outsourcing was how to get my *ish...

Hi Reader! Another gorgeous fall weekend is in the books, and I actually spent it in a cabin in Michigan! I’m an obsessive “leaf-peeper,” so I was in heaven! But back to business. When preparing this issue, my (freelance) assistant and I chatted about what we considered best practices for working together. The tips below are just the first step and they address how to actually start a freelance relationship. But we also had a ton of tips about how to actually work together effectively. Let me...