Small Business Casual
Where small business meets your favorite pair of slippers. A little quirky, not too buttoned up, one less accessory, ahhh… just right. Welcome to Small Business Casual, where we focus on designing sustainable, cozy, and thriving businesses tailored to your LIFE. Not the other way around!From general business and marketing to making sense of the behind-the-scenes chaos, I’m Emily Aborn, your host and Small Business Copywriter! I’m here to walk alongside you as we make running our businesses less of a roller coaster and more like a scenic train ride (don't forget the snacks!). Want to be a guest...
10
Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen: When Serial Help Becomes a Recipe for Disaster
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>Have you ever seen a business owner pay for help and then get all a gazillion different opinions from Mary, Larry, Harry, Tom, Billy, and Sally? Maybe it's been YOU seeking helper after helper whose help isn't "working"?</p><p>It can be really frustrating and entirely <b>unhelpful </b>when we poll everyone and anyone for help on how to move forward and proceed. </p><p>Too many cooks in the kitchen can cause you to be forever catching up. It can create chaos, endless pivots and updates, and unwarranted or unnecessary strategy. </p><p>...
Leaving the Casino: Building a Business that Actually Works for YOU with Jessica Lackey
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>Have you been burned by bro marketing? Exhausted by all the social media hacks? Underwhelmed with the "just manifest it" advice? </p><p>If so, you're going to LOVE the wisdom of my guest, Jessica Lackey. </p><p>Jessica reminds us that when you play by their rules, the house always wins in the entrepreneurial casino. </p><p>We discuss how to stop betting on tactics and build a business that actually works for YOU as we tackle some of the bigger, better questions. </p><p><b>In our conversation about Leaving the Casino: </b></p>What...
Business Owner Guilt Trip: Overcoming False Guilt
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>Do you feel guilty if you don't post or engage on social media for a week? Do you feel like you did something WRONG if you just spent an hour scrolling instead of being productive?</p><p>I recently asked this question about social media guilt on LinkedIn, asking people to share their experience with this no-win guilt phenomenon, and the comments and solidarity totally surprised me! Lots of people felt equally guilty posting as they did NOT posting! People felt just as bad being ON it as they did NOT being on it. </p><p...
Human vs. Search Engine: A modern SEO strategy with Sarah Moon
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>Over 80% of internet users rely on search engines regularly, and billions of searches happen every day! If you're not thinking about how people find you through search, you're missing a massive opportunity for your business. </p><p>In this episode of Small Business Casual, I’m joined by Marketing and Business Strategy Consultant, Sarah Moon, for a deep dive into what’s working in search in 2026</p><p>We go beyond keywords and algorithm hacks and instead look at building a solid foundation, establishing true topical authority, and sharing your human expertise, all while playing nice...
DO Sweat the Small Stuff: Tiny Writing Shifts that Make a BIG Difference in Your Business
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>Calling all word nerds!! </p><p>And, of course, non-word nerds who are ready to start writing with more impact. </p><p>This episode is for you! </p><p>We’re getting tactical and hands-on as I share tiny writing shifts that make a massive difference in how your emails, social posts, web copy, and marketing land. </p><p>These aren’t complicated shifts. You don’t need an MFA in Creative Writing or to spend the next year curled up with your dictionary... these are simple, small, specific shifts that will help make your writing cl...
Words that Build Trust
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>In the world of AI, misinformation, and a whole lot of suspicious stuff out there in the ether... building trust matters more than ever as small business owners and creators! </p><p>In this episode, we’re going to get into what you can do to build it apart from simply saying, “Trust me!” </p><p>We're laying a foundation of trust by addressing 5 important pillars you can't afford to overlook. Plus, a bonus one that so many people neglect to strengthen!</p><p><b>Inside the episode: </b></p>What is trust really? Is it the sa...
Entrepreneur vs. Small Business Owner: What's in a Name?
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>Entrepreneur, Freelancer, Self-Employed, Business Owner, Small Business Owner, Founder, CEO... what's in a name? </p><p>Don't they all just mean the same thing? Does it even matter what we call ourselves? Does it matter what we call our clients? </p><p>In this episode, we’ll explore why "entrepreneur" vs. "small business owner" feel a bit different. We'll get into what they actually each MEAN on paper, and we’ll identify together which one YOU might be while giving you permission to reject both if you so choose. </p><p>What you'll learn: </p>What thes...
A Matter of "Semantics": Dirty Word or Secret Weapon?
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>Words aren't neutral. The specific words you choose shape how people perceive you, your business, and your message.</p><p>Sometimes, it's just a word, and trying to find the exact right one is just overthinking in disguise, and sometimes... the tiniest words matter. </p><p>Two words, two different ways of saying the same thing, can feel completely different and set a totally different tone. </p><p><b>Semantics is defined as: the branch of linguistics concerned with meaning. You get into word origins, context, implications, word relations, structures, and more. </b></p><p>In t...
If it Takes 10, Do it Then! Weekly Love Note with Emily ❤️
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>You know what I'm talking about... </p><p>That ONE thing that's been sitting on your to-do list for weeks, taking up mental real estate, making you feel behind. I can all but guarantee that the mental weight of NOT doing it takes WAY more energy than just doing the damn thing!</p><p>In this week's Love Note, I share with you the results of my mini-four-week Love Notes Experiment and challenge you to pick your one 10-minute (or less) task that's been haunting you.</p><p>Together, let's knock it out. Feel lighter. M...
Your Best Isn't Perfect: How to lean into your personal best
<p>Text Emily! </p><p>We're wrapping up our series exploring Don Miguel Ruiz’s book and philosophy, The Four Agreements, and applying it to our modern businesses and creative endeavors. </p><p>Marketing, content creation, client relationships, boundaries, and perhaps most importantly, your relationship with YOURSELF, we’re going to examine what it means to do your best, not to be confused with "be perfect". This is Part the final episode of the four-part series, so make sure you catch each one and enjoy the journaling prompts and self-exploration along the way.</p><p><b>In the episode: </b></p>What...
