This 16-minute guided meditation is designed for business owners who want to feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded as they move into their next season.
Through gentle breathwork and visualization, you’ll be guided to release mental clutter, reconnect with what matters most, and envision a version of your business that feels aligned with your values and capacity. This is not about hustle or productivity. It’s about intention, presence, and clarity.
This meditation is best listened to in a quiet space with headphones.
Planning your 2026 marketing doesn’t require a massive strategy doc or a brand-new platform. It requires clarity, priorities, and a plan that fits your real life.
In this episode, we break down how to approach 2026 marketing in a way that actually feels doable. You’ll learn how to review what worked, let go of what didn’t, and build a focused plan that supports your business and your life.
In this episode, we cover:
The two things you should do before diving into 2026 planning (Hint: reflect and dream!)
What to keep, what to stop, and what to refine going into 2026
How to choose priorities when you don’t have time or budget to do everything
Why clarity matters more than new tactics
How to create a marketing plan you can actually stick with
Check out our Guided Meditation to settle your brain before you plan! https://youtu.be/BVBoxmhL26s
Snag your 2026 Planning template:
https://www.bigbadmarketing.com/s/BBM_New-Year-Planning-Template.pdf
💌 Big Bad Marketing Newsletter
Monthly insights, ideas, and actually useful marketing advice. Sign up at
https://bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter
Have you ever opened Pinterest to “get inspired” for your business… and somehow ended up planning a fictional life in Italy instead?
Same.
In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing Podcast, we’re talking about how to create a vision board for your small business that’s not just vibes and pretty pictures, but something that actually guides your decisions, keeps you focused, and helps you build the business you keep thinking about at 2 am.
We break down:
Why vision boards work (even if you’re allergic to woo-woo)
How a vision board can act as a strategic filter, not just inspiration
The two types of vision boards your business might need right now
How to visualize revenue, impact, and growth without turning it into a manifestation cliché
How to turn your vision board into something actionable using habits and consistency
The most common vision board mistakes small business owners make (and how to avoid them)
This episode is part strategy, part mindset, and part “who do I need to become to support the business I say I want?”
✨ Bonus for listeners:
If you love the idea of pairing vision with habits, you can get 15% off a Sticker the Habit calendar using code BIGBAD. It’s a simple, analog way to track habits and actually follow through on the vision you’re creating.
👉 https://stickerthehabit.etsy.com?coupon=BIGBAD
And if you want monthly marketing inspo that actually helps you think bigger without burning out, sign up for the Big Bad Marketing Newsletter at bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter.
Flyers. Postcards. Brochures. Snail mail.
Is any of this actually working anymore… or are you just paying to be tossed straight into someone’s recycling bin?
In this episode, we’re breaking down whether print marketing via mail still works in 2026, and the answer might surprise you. We’re walking you through when direct mail makes sense, when it doesn’t, how much it actually costs, and which types of small businesses see the highest ROI. (Spoiler: print is far from dead.)
We even brought receipts from our friend Nikki Bernet at Local Trend, who shared insider data on targeting, budgeting, offer strategy, and why global brands like American Express and Domino’s still rely heavily on direct mail.
You’ll learn:
Why postcards and targeted mailers still convert
The difference between saturation mailers (like EDDM) vs. refined mailing lists
Which industries see the best return on print
What types of offers work best (and which ones fall flat)
How much you should expect to spend mailing to 1,000, 5,000, or 10,000 homes
Who shouldn’t use direct mail
How to test the waters affordably using cooperative mail
If you’ve ever wondered whether sending physical mail is worth it or how to effectively send print campaigns without wasting money, this episode gives you the clarity you need.
Want to learn more about affordable, targeted print campaigns? Connect with Nikki at localtrendcharleston.com.
📬 Sign up for the BBM newsletter: bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter
One year ago, we kicked off this podcast with a scrappy little elevator pitch and a mission: help real small business owners DIY their marketing on a budget. And honestly? That messy first draft was exactly what we needed to get started.
Now, one year later, we’re revisiting our original elevator pitch, breaking down what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how our own clarity has evolved as Big Bad Marketing has grown. We’re also sharing the biggest lesson we’ve learned after working with small business owners all year long: if everything in your business feels hard, it usually starts with a fuzzy elevator pitch.
In this episode, we’ll walk you through:
Our original 2024 elevator pitch (and whether we’d change it today)
The 5-part template you can still use to nail your own pitch
How your elevator pitch exposes deeper issues with your offers, pricing, or audience
How to test, refine, and evolve your pitch as your business grows
If you want to reshape how you talk about what you do, and finally make it clear, confident, and easy for customers to say “ohhh, I need that”, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen to our original elevator pitch episode:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-elevator-pitch-how-to-sell-yourself-in-30-seconds/id1793837831?i=1000687632491
📘 Read the companion blog post:
https://www.bigbadmarketing.com/blog/heres-how-to-perfect-your-elevator-pitch
📬 Get our monthly BBM newsletter:
https://www.bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter
Let’s do this.
Before you set a single goal for 2026, you need to take an honest look at what actually happened in 2025. In this episode, we walk you through our Big Bad Biz Review, the six-page reflection we use for our business to understand the real story behind what happened this year.
We cover the numbers that matter (revenue, margins, leads, LTV, CAC, and more) and the reflection questions most business owners skip: what felt heavy, what felt energizing, what decisions made your life easier, and where you fell out of alignment.
You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your patterns, your wins, your lessons, and the mindset shifts that deserve to follow you into the new year.
This episode is part strategy, part therapy, and part truth-telling, the perfect reset before you build your 2026 plan.
Resources we mention in this episode:
Happiness Podcast Episode: The podcast we referenced about what actually drives happiness
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-1-happiness-expert-if-your-friends-get-divorced/id1291423644?i=1000642058696
Offer Blog: How to create a compelling offer that converts
https://www.bigbadmarketing.com/blog/how-to-create-a-compelling-offer
In this episode, we walk through how to build a sustainable, stress-free marketing plan for 2026. Topics include:
Why you burn out with marketing (and how to prevent it)
Choosing the right platforms for you
Creating a cadence that’s more than doable
Why your first 3 months of the year should be detailed, and the rest flexible
How to repurpose instead of reinventing
A simple sample plan:
1 email per month
1 social post per week
If your marketing hasn’t been working, it’s probably because you’re doing what most small business owners accidentally do: sending traffic to something that’s not fully built yet.
In this episode, we cover:
Why your marketing isn’t converting (and why it’s not your fault)
The real reason paid ads, boosted posts, and fancy websites flop
The 3 questions every small business must answer before marketing can work
The 8-step foundation every small biz needs:
Clear, sellable offers
Biz math + pricing that makes sense
End-to-end delivery process
Your buyer’s journey
User personas + competitive landscape
Messaging + brand voice
Platforms
Website basics
What to focus on in 2026 to show up consistently without burning out
How to create a simple, sustainable marketing cadence you’ll actually stick to
Related Big Bad Marketing episodes:
This week, we’re doing something a little different. This episode is a vibes-only, behind-the-scenes check-in. Because let’s be real: some weeks in business are just a lot.
We’re talking about what happens when everything hits at once, deadlines, prospect calls, launches, life, and how we find the will (and the mindset) to keep going when we’d rather throw our laptops out the window.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying your whole business on your back or wondering if it’s supposed to feel this hard sometimes, this one’s for you. It’s honest, it’s messy, and it’s proof you’re not alone.
Running a business comes with a never-ending to-do list, deadlines, and the occasional meltdown in front of your laptop. Stress is real. But so are the little rituals that help you reset.
In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing Podcast, we’re getting real about the practices that keep us grounded and sane while building our business. Think of it as a menu of stress-busting ideas you can pull from when your brain feels fried.
Here’s what we dive into:
How we define stress (and why it shows up so often in entrepreneurship)
Simple daily resets: water, movement, breaks, and knowing when to stop
Creative outlets that unlock flow: pottery, watercolors, doodling, guitar
Body and breath: yoga, kundalini, strength training, dance cardio, breath work
Cozy vibes: cooking, gardening, reading, cleaning, skincare, face masks
Social and mental resets: belly rubs (yes, really), meeting people IRL, keeping a clean desk
Jenné loves this channel - Like this 10 minute cardio workout video
Jenné LOVES YOGIGEMS! She makes kundalini accessible with short, not too intense kriyas, that aren't 90 mins. This is a good one.
This is the breathwork video we did together. SO invigorating!
💌 Want more behind-the-scenes convos like this? Join our Big Bad Marketing newsletter for tips, strategies, and the real talk of running a business: bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter
🎧 More BBM episodes you might like:
Take these 3 simple steps to make marketing feel less overwhelming
The $500 marketing budget challenge (because money stress is real, too)
Running a business doesn’t mean running yourself into the ground. Tune in for a reminder to breathe, reset, and get back to creating.
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a Big Bad episode!
This Halloween, we’re digging up the cursed advice that haunts small business owners everywhere.
From “post every day no matter what” to “your product will sell itself,” we’re calling out the scary, bad marketing advice you should definitely not follow.
Brooke and Jenné break down why these ghostly mistakes happen, how to fix them fast, and what to do instead so your marketing doesn’t end up six feet under.
💀 Sign up for the October BBM Newsletter at bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter for smart (not spooky) marketing tips and our free 2026 Marketing Calendar!
Ever put weeks of effort into an event only to feel like crickets when the doors open? We’ve been there. In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing Podcast, we’re breaking down exactly how to promote an in-person event so people actually show up, without blowing your budget.
Whether you’re hosting a workshop, pop-up, open house, or expo booth, this step-by-step guide will help you:
Map out your event goals and plan ahead (so you’re not scrambling)
Build a smart digital promotion timeline that creates hype and urgency
Use print the right way (flyers, postcards, signage) without wasting money
Create must-have collateral and avoid last-minute rush fees
Follow up after the event so you keep momentum and turn attendees into customers
We’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons we learned the hard way so you don’t have to.
💌 Want more step-by-step marketing tips like this? Join the Big Bad Marketing newsletter at bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter
🎧 More episodes to check out:
How to crush your first expo without being cringey
The $500 marketing budget challenge for when you need to stretch your dollars and still get results
If you’re serious about filling seats and creating buzz for your next event, this episode is your playbook.
👉 Be sure to hit subscribe so you don’t miss all the upcoming goodness!
Ever stood in front of a folding table, wondering if anyone actually wants to talk to you about your business? Same.
In this episode, we’re sharing everything we learned from our first in-person event, the Mt. Pleasant Small Business Expo!
You’ll hear:
If you’ve got an event coming up, or you just want to know how to show up bigger in person, you’ll walk away with real, tactical tips you can use right away.
Join the newsletter! bigbadmarketing.com/newsletter
If you’ve got 3,000 subscribers but only 17 people opening your emails, that’s not an audience, it’s digital dead weight. In this episode we break down why cleaning your email list can actually increase sales, improve deliverability, and make your marketing work harder for you.
You’ll learn:
The cold, hard truth about email list engagement
Signs it’s time to clean your list (and what to look for)
How to run a simple re-engagement campaign
Why fewer subscribers can actually mean more impact
💻 Want more tactical marketing tips delivered straight to your inbox by people who send amazing emails? Sign up for the Big Bad Marketing Newsletter. It’s packed with practical, funny, and usable advice, and you’ll get our list of marketing levers as a bonus.
You've gotten your first (or second, or third) tentative yes from a prospective client. What do you do now? You need a more formal proposal that sets clear expectations of what you'll deliver, a contract so you look like a real business, and an invoice so you can actually get your $$$. In this episode of the Big Bad Marketing podcast, we cover everything you need to do from the initial "let's work together!" to actually delivering the work.Sign up for the Big Bad Marketing newsletter at https://www.bigbadmarketing.com/newsletterOther resources we mentioned:Business proposals episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-create-business-proposals-that-get-signed/id1793837831?i=1000703469101Invoicing episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/invoice-like-a-pro-without-fancy-software/id1793837831?i=1000701584871Testimonials episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/testimonials-that-work-what-to-ask-when-to-ask-and/id1793837831?i=1000718316840
Defining your “target audience” shouldn’t feel like writing a Pinterest mood board.
In this episode we get real about how to actually figure out who your customers are, using a mix of data, common sense, and a little tough love.
You’ll learn:
Why your audience isn’t who you want, it’s who’s already buying
How to use data (and simple questions) to find out who that is
The traps that make audience-building way more complicated than it needs to be
How to test, refine, and pivot without a market research budget
📬 Want more common sense marketing tips like this? Sign up for the BBM Newsletter. You’ll get practical, funny, and genuinely helpful marketing advice straight to your inbox (plus our full list of marketing levers as a bonus!)
Got the marketing basics down but still want to build a client-creating machine?
You’ve got a real business and a $500/month marketing budget. Now it’s time to spend it where it counts. So, where should you invest?
In this episode we talk through how to make your next $500 work smarter, whether you're online or local. We’ll cover:
What to do for free before you spend a dime
How to use content and email to build trust and get leads
Low-risk ways to test ads, grow visibility, and boost referrals
What not to spend on (yet)
Perfect for solo service providers, side hustlers turned full-timers, or local pros looking to get booked solid. Let’s turn your “I hope this works” into “damn, this is working.”
Want bite-sized, free business tips in your inbox?
Sign up for the Big Bad Marketing Newsletter, an email you'll actually look forward to.
If this episode helped you make sense of your marketing budget, do us a favor:
💥 Follow the Big Bad Marketing Podcast
💥 Leave us a 5-star review
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Your support helps us keep showing up!
Got $500/month for marketing, but no audience, and no idea where to start?
You’re not alone. And, good news: you don’t need a massive budget to get visible and land your first customers.
In this episode, we explain exactly how to spend your first $500/month to market your brand-new business strategically (not randomly). Whether you’re a digital service provider or an in-person business, we’ll help you make smart, scrappy moves that build trust with your prospects, and get them to buy in!
We cover:
What to do before spending money on marketing
The best free marketing moves to give you a head start
How to prioritize website, email, and content basics without blowing your budget
Smart ways to market yourself locally
What NOT to waste your money on (no, you don’t need a $2,000 logo)
💌 Want more budget-friendly marketing tips? Join our monthly newsletter.
🎧 Subscribe to the podcast to keep getting kick-@$$ marketing tips. And if you love us (or hate us!) leave us a five star review.
You’re posting, emailing, showing up on social… but is any of it actually working?
In this episode, we walk you through how to track your marketing data like a professional marketer, without getting overwhelmed by spreadsheets or vanity metrics, or buying expensive software. You’ll learn what to measure, what to ignore, and how to use data to make smart, strategic decisions.
Here’s what we cover:
The 2 questions all data should answer: What’s working? What’s not?
What to track across your website, email, and social media
How to set goals that make sense for your business (not someone else’s)
What to do when you hit a dip, plateau, or confusing trend
Smart tools to help you track without overcomplicating it
Why small, consistent tweaks win vs. complete overhauls
Going with your gut is great...until it’s costing you sales. So let's rewrite the story with a strategic plan to track the right metrics!
📩 Want help figuring out what’s actually working in your business?
Join the Big Bad Newsletter for smart, actionable marketing tips (with a little sass!)
🎧 Subscribe or follow to get all the small business marketing ideas. And, leave us a five star review to help us reach more small biz owners who have no clue what to do!
The holidays sneak up fast, and if you wait until November to start planning your promos, you might end up with a big lump of coal.
In this episode we share why September is the secret weapon for holiday marketing and what you can do now to make Q4 less stressful (and more profitable).
We cover:
The biggest mistake small businesses make with holiday planning
How to map out offers, deadlines, and capacity before the rush
Simple steps you can take this month to get ahead (without burning out)
💌 Want more tactical tips like this? Sign up for the BBM Newsletter. It’s like hot cocoa for your business, except useful year-round.
📌 Related blog posts we mentioned: