On this episode of the Sassy Strategist Podcast, host Kim Dawson interviews Mallika Malhotra, the Brand CEO, as she unpacks the crucial elements of brand strategy for entrepreneurs navigating crowded marketplaces. Delving into the challenges of standing out and gaining traction, Malika shares her expertise in helping experienced entrepreneurs define their power niche, craft impactful messaging, and enhance visibility to become industry go-tos. 

Mallika emphasizes the distinction between brand and marketing strategies, stressing the significance of brand essence before communication tactics. With a focus on niching, Malika advocates for specialization as a powerful tool to attract ideal clients, debunking fears around missed opportunities and highlighting the transformative potential of honing in on a specific audience, skill set, problem, or solution.

KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Strategic Foundation: Prioritize defining your brand's essence, values, and differentiation before diving into marketing tactics for maximum impact.
  
  
• Niche Amplification: Embrace specialization to become the go-to expert, amplifying your brand's visibility and appeal within a specific audience or problem domain.
  
  
• Messaging Precision: Clarity and specificity in brand messaging create resonance and memorability, distinguishing you in crowded marketplaces.
  
  
• Quality Over Quantity: Focusing on a niche allows for deeper impact and growth potential, enabling scalable opportunities while fostering trust and recognition.
  
  
• Overcoming Fear of Missing Out: Reframe the fear of missing out on diverse opportunities by recognizing the power and impact of serving a specific audience with specialized expertise.

Mallika Malhotra, The Brand CEO, is an award-winning brand strategist, mentor, and speaker. After years of working in corporate advertising on renowned brands like L’Oreal and Oil of Olay, Mallika now empowers women entrepreneurs to get clear on their brand message, define their power niche and become sought-after experts. Her friends and clients call her the brand energizer because she encourages stepping out of comfort zones, taking action, and implementing ideas. When not building brands, Mallika is sipping coffee or red wine, reading a stack of books and dreaming of global adventures. She lives in beautiful coastal Maine with her husband, three sons and their mini Bernedoodle, Jax. To learn more about working with Mallika or to invite her to speak at your event or podcast, visit www.mallikamalhotra.co

Kim Dawson is a small business strategist, consultant, accountant, and lifelong entrepreneur with a unique background and experience in a wide variety of industries. 

Kim’s the author of the Amazon best-selling book Passion to Profits: Your Guide to Building a Successful Business You Love and host of the long-running Sassy Strategist podcast where she delivers practical strategies to help you manage and grow your business. 

Kim works with small business owners to help increase revenue, cash flow, and profitability to help them achieve their goals for growth. 

Her passion is in helping those who are building more than just a business; they’re crafting a life rich in experiences, skill, and personal and professional fulfillment.

When not working, Kim can be found going for a hike or run, watching Jeopardy, solving math problems for fun, or reading about her latest topic of interest while enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to music.

In the initial stages of launching a service-based business, it's common to start with lower rates to attract clients and gain experience. Many entrepreneurs begin by charging hourly, ensuring they are compensated for their time. However, as expertise grows, sticking to hourly rates can hinder long-term profitability.

In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson explores three key pricing models: monthly retainers, project-based pricing, and packaged services. Kim discusses the pros and cons of each, emphasizing the importance of transitioning away from hourly rates to build sustainable success. The episode delves into practical examples and strategies for implementing these models, providing valuable insights for businesses seeking to optimize their pricing structures.

KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Begin with lower hourly rates to attract clients and gain experience.
• Relying solely on hourly rates can devalue expertise over time.
• Monthly Retainers offer stability and easier budgeting for service providers.
• Project-based pricing is ideal for one-time projects and helps to prevent miscommunication around expectations between you and your clients.
• Packaged Services offers different service levels for various budgets without compromising value.
• Flexible packages and tiers can help you maintain profitability and widen your clientele.
• Combining pricing models bridges revenue gaps without losing income.

Kim Dawson is a small business strategist, consultant, accountant, and lifelong entrepreneur with a unique background and experience in a wide variety of industries. 

Kim’s the author of the Amazon best-selling book Passion to Profits: Your Guide to Building a Successful Business You Love and host of the long-running Sassy Strategist podcast where she delivers practical strategies to help you manage and grow your business. 

Kim works with small business owners to help increase revenue, cash flow, and profitability to help them achieve their goals for growth. 

Her passion is in helping those who are building more than just a business; they’re crafting a life rich in experiences, skill, and personal and professional fulfillment.

When not working, Kim can be found hiking in the woods, going for a run, watching Jeopardy, solving math problems for fun, or reading about her latest topic of interest while enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to music. 

If you’re ready to have a business that supports the lifestyle you desire, book a call with Kim today at https://kdawsonco.com/. 

In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson swaps roles with her friend and fellow podcaster, Emily Aborn, who hosts two podcasts - She Built This and Content with Character. Emily interviews Kim about her personal journey, which starts with her first business at the age of seven, and how it led her to where she is today. Kim shares some fun facts about herself and reveals how her curiosity, honesty, and passion for helping others have been constant values throughout her life.

Kim’s story emphasizes the importance of being true to yourself and your values, and not being afraid to reinvent yourself along the way. She also shares her belief in the power of curiosity and continuous learning in both life and business. This episode provides valuable insights and inspiration for anyone who wants to build a business that aligns with their passion and purpose and makes a positive impact on their life and others. 

KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE

Kim Dawson's personal journey, starting with her first business at the age of seven and how it led her to where she is today.

The importance of being true to yourself and your values, not being afraid to reinvent yourself, and the power of curiosity and continuous learning in life and business.

The episode provides valuable insights and inspiration for building a business that aligns with passion and purpose and makes a positive impact on one's life and others.

Emily Aborn is a Content Copywriter, Speaker, and Podcast Host of Content with Character and She Built This. She lives in Temple, NH with her husband, Jason, and their snuggle-loving dog, Clyde. She enjoys hiking, reading, being a Jeopardy contestant from her couch, and writing.

Kim Dawson is a small business strategist, consultant, accountant, and lifelong entrepreneur with a unique background and experience in a wide variety of industries. 

Kim’s the author of the Amazon best-selling book Passion to Profits: Your Guide to Building a Successful Business You Love and host of the long-running Sassy Strategist podcast where she delivers practical strategies to help you manage and grow your business. 

Kim works with small business owners to help increase revenue, cash flow, and profitability to help them achieve their goals for growth. 

Her passion is in helping those who are building more than just a business; they’re building a life filled with experiences, craftsmanship, and fulfillment personally and professionally. 

When not working, Kim can be found on an adventure, hiking in the woods, trying out a new recipe, or reading about her latest topic of interest while enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to music. 

If you’re ready to have a business that supports the lifestyle you desire, book a call with Kim today at https://kdawsonco.com/. 

Have you been feeling stuck, unmotivated, or simply “meh” about your business lately? Does it feel like you’re in a holding pattern waiting for something to change? Are you telling yourself that eventually things will start to happen for you, and at that point you’ll finally be ready to move forward?

Then don’t miss this episode of The Sassy Strategist podcast. Host Kim Dawson shares a personal story of how she found inspiration where she least expected it, and how it made her realize that waiting for change just keeps you stuck where you are. 

She asks the tough questions to help you realize that the only thing standing in the way of you getting what you want is waiting for it. Kim also shares specific strategies you can use to go from feeling uninspired to focused and ready for action. 

KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE

• You already have everything you need to inspire change in your business (and your life!)
• Waiting for change can keep you stuck, bored, and feeling frustrated
• Ask yourself what you truly want, then make a list of actions you can take to make it happen
• You don’t need to do everything on your list, start with one item and go from there
• Action creates inspiration

Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and CFO Advisor for small business owners. She works with clients to increase profitability, grow their team, and manage their business more effectively, with less stress and more confidence and joy. Kim has helped her clients double - and sometimes triple - their revenue, all while doing more of what they enjoy, and gaining their free time back. 

If you’re ready to have a profitable business that brings you the lifestyle you desire, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

There’s a misconception out there that scaling is the only way to increase revenue, increase profit, have more time, and run your business more efficiently. However, many solopreneurs and small business owners don’t really want to scale. In fact, what many call scaling, isn’t really scaling at all!

In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, host Kim Dawson dispels the myths around scaling, discussing the difference between scaling and other forms of growth. Kim shares strategies for achieving your goals without scaling, and without continuously growing your team. If you’re looking to stay small, but also increase revenue and profit, while getting your time back, this episode is for you. 

You can increase revenue and profit without scaling your business

Scaling is a form of growth, but you can grow your business without scaling.

When you build your team, profit may decrease in the beginning, but having a plan can help reduce the impact

When you add to your team, pricing needs to be re-evaluated to avoid a net loss

Systems may need to change as you grow your team

Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and fractional CFO for solopreneurs and small business owners. She works with clients to increase profitability, improve cash flow, and manage their business more effectively, with less stress and more confidence and joy.

Kim has helped her clients double - and sometimes triple - their revenue, all while doing more of what they enjoy, and gaining their free time back. 

If you’re ready to have a profitable business that brings you the lifestyle you desire, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/. 

You love being a small business owner and you started your business because you wanted to make a living doing something you love. But there is pressure coming from all around you telling you to “grow and scale” - whether it’s creating passive revenue streams, hiring employees, growing your team, or even building to sell. The message you’re told is that it’s the only way to be successful. But it isn’t.

In this episode of The Sassy Strategist, host Kim Dawson shares her thoughts on finding joy and profitability as a small business owner. Kim also discusses why trying to be a CEO rather than the service provider may actually be hurting your business. Listen in to hear Kim’s personal story of how she realized that staying small was the best fit for her, and her clients. 

You can be financially successful without growing your team or scaling

Focusing on your services rather than being a CEO may be the best fit for you and your clients

Small businesses typically have small budgets - scaling may cause you to lose clients who can no longer afford your services

You can do something that you love and that you're passionate about and make a good living at it

Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist, accountant, and fractional CFO for solopreneurs and small business owners. She works with clients to help them increase profitability, improve cash flow, and manage their business more effectively, with less stress and more confidence and joy. Kim has helped her clients double - and sometimes triple - their revenue, all while doing more of what they love, and gaining their free time back. 

If you’re ready to have a profitable business that brings you the lifestyle you desire, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/. 

When selling to potential clients remember one thing - they want to know that you can provide what they need, do it within their budget, and if they hire you they’ll get results. To successfully sell your services, you need to be able to communicate these results at rates that align with the value of these results. Pricing too high or too low can send the message that they won’t get the results they want. 

In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson shares strategies for selling from the client’s perspective; speaking to what you can do for them, the results you bring, and the investment for getting those results. Kim discusses the importance of knowing your market, aligning with their values, and seeing how results can be more than just business results, but can help them personally as well. 

KEY POINTS

* Pricing your services will be different depending on the size of your business, and the best pricing supports both your business needs and the needs of the client. 

* You don’t want to overvalue or undervalue your services in regards to pricing.  Pricing too high or too low can deter your ideal clients - they ‘ll think they won’t get the results they want.

* Communicate with your potential client why your services are valued at the rate you charge - what are the results the client can expect from hiring you.

* The results of working with you might include business results, such as increased clients, visibility in a new market, or more efficient systems, but there may also be personal results such as less stress, better time management, or more fulfillment from their work. 

* Pricing can vary greatly from one service provider to the next - your goal is to align your pricing with the needs of the market you work with and the value of the results you provide.

Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability. 

If you’re ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.

Not every business owner enjoys marketing, but it’s necessary if you want to grow your business. However, you can make marketing work for you, even make it enjoyable, if you adopt a different approach. Marketing can feel overwhelming if you think you need to implement every marketing strategy and be everywhere all the time. There are several options and opportunities, but you can choose what aligns with you and your business.

In this episode of the Sassy Strategist podcast, host Kim Dawson interviews Kristi Mitchell, Marketing Strategist, who shares insight on how to create a custom marketing strategy that works for you and your goals. She talks about using pull marketing rather than push marketing strategy, especially as it relates to social media. Kristi also shares inspiration for creating lead magnets, overlooked marketing strategies that generate good ROI, and why it’s so important to have an overall marketing strategy before hiring specialists. 

KEY POINTS

* Pull marketing may be more effective than push marketing to engage your audience, and may align better with your personal brand.

* There are several strategies to choose from when it comes to marketing your business, you don’t need to implement them all. 

* Social media marketing may be more effective when you focus on 1-2 platforms.

* Many business owners focus their attention on the attraction stage of the marketing process, while not focusing enough on the conversion stage. 

* Hire a strategist before hiring a specialist. A strategist can create the overall plan that a specialist can then implement.

Kristi Mitchell is a Marketing Strategist. She specializes in working with established business owners who have relied on referrals and word-of-mouth to get to where they are today. They know in order to take their business to the next level, they need to finally get strategic about their marketing efforts. Kristi brings an MBA, over ten years of corporate marketing experience, and a drive for continual learning to the work she does with her clients. 

Go to https://www.kristimitchell.com/ for more information or to download her free social media calendar template. 

Kim Dawson is a results-driven business strategist and an expert at turning a good business into a great one. Her clients have reached their current capacity and need to make changes in order to generate more profits and get their time back! With over 20+ years of entrepreneurship and accounting experience, Kim helps small businesses optimize their pricing and procedures while navigating niche markets and building a team without cutting into their profitability. 

If you’re ready to transition from day-to-day service provider to CEO, book a discovery call with Kim at https://kdawsonco.com/.