If you’re a founder who quietly hopes social media will “just work” without you ever showing your face, keep reading. You want leads, authority, and opportunities… but the idea of going on video or becoming “the face” of your brand makes your stomach drop. You’re not alone. Building social media confidence as a founder is a skill, not a personality trait.

If you work at a small business, nonprofit, or purpose driven organization, you’re probably living this reality daily: you are the social media manager, community manager, customer support, and sometimes the entire comms team in one person. You are expected to be strategic, creative, and data driven while doing more with less. Here are seven social media agency secrets to steal to create real impact in 2026

Beware of The Business Summer Slide I’ve noticed something similar in business. ☹️ In summer, like we did when we were kids, we coast. Not everyone, but a lot of us do. We let check‑ins slide.  We lose momentum.  with client connections starting new campaigns long-term planning It happens.  Yet summer is a PERFECT time to learn more, do more, and prepare for a busy Q4.

Why would an organic social media specialist who does not specialize in paid media write about ads? (No, this isn't a riddle!) Answer: Because it's an important shift in messaging that has spilled over into organic social media. The perfect ad is dead. Long live the ugly ad!

I've developed and deployed a strategy behind every guest invitation, every topic, and every story I bring to the show. Find out how you, too can have the most fantastic guests on your podcast.

In September 2025, I hosted the second, 3-day   REEL Retreat   in Pittsfield, VT.   We came together to learn about reels and short-form video , but getting together in-person at a retreat is so much more than straightforward learning. There was networking, connecting, sharing meals, hiking and learning about each other's businesses. On the second day, a revelation happened: While I was teaching short-form video scripting, I learned something. Most of the small business owner

What makes agency subcontracting successful, and what makes it crash and burn? If you’ve ever been burned by a flaky freelancer, micro-managed into madness, or partnered with an agency only to realize you’re speaking two different languages, this one’s for you.

If your sales team is missing something, it might just be a good punchline. Humor is for everyone. Sure, comedians and class clowns may think they own the space, but it’s a powerful and underutilized sales tool, too!

What happens when your brand stops chasing likes and starts cultivating real relationships? In an era of AI, automation, and polished perfection, it's easy to forget there's a human behind every screen.

AI is changing fast. And if you're still thinking in terms of tools, you’re already behind. Learn how AI agents are redefining the future of work in your marketing agency.

What if the key to improving your Facebook ad ROI wasn’t about spending more, but about spending smarter? Combining Facebook’s ad tools with organic strategies can reduce costs, warm up your audience, and create lasting connections.

What makes a retreat not only memorable, but so impactful that attendees are asking about your next one before they even leave?

the traditional funnel was always more of a measurement tool than a strategy. Marketers often map their tactics to stages like awareness, consideration, and purchase. But real customers don’t move neatly down that path. Instead, their journeys are looping, dynamic, and unpredictable.

“We still work in silos — sales works toward sales goals, marketing works toward marketing goals. And there isn’t this sense that we have two different skill sets of the same team.” — Lee Judge

If you’ve ever wished for more hours in the day or a team of tireless helpers, AI assistants might just be your dream come true.

Why Brand Strategy for Small Business Starts With What You Don’t Do

What if your smartest marketing strategist isn’t human? That’s the provocative question explored in a recent Strategy Talks episode, where Dorien Morin-van Dam sat down with Neal Schaffer—author, educator, and Fractional CMO. Together, they unpacked what it really means to adopt an AI-first business strategy in 2025, especially for small business owners.

AI is not here to take your job, but someone using AI probably will. AI empowers those who know how to leverage it, enabling them to work faster and smarter. The ease of defining your role impacts how vulnerable it is to automation. For instance: Repetitive, narrowly defined tasks (e.g., writing generic blog posts) are easier to outsource to AI. Multi-faceted professionals (e.g., strategists who combine writing, SEO, and audience research) will find AI an ampl

LinkedIn isn’t just about text posts and articles anymore. Video is taking center stage, and if your brand isn’t using it yet, you’re missing out. In a recent episode of Strategy Talks, Dorien Morin-van Dam sat down with LinkedIn insider Purna Virji to break down what’s working right now in LinkedIn video and how businesses can create meaningful video content that resonates.

If you are just getting started using AI as a small business owner, these are the 3 AI mistakes to avoid!