Story First
Notes on story, trust, and why your marketing isn't landing.
Do You Need a Rebrand or Just a Retell?
Your marketing may not be the problem. Sometimes the business has simply evolved faster than the story. Here’s how to tell whether you need a full rebrand or just a better retell.
What You’re Known For Is a Year Behind You
You're updating your bio and the words come out fine, accurate even, describing the business you were running a year ago. July is when that gap surfaces.
Behind on Your Goals? Check the Message Before the Calendar
The mid-year review you already ran in your head, and the one thing worth checking before you spend the second half just running faster.
What We Found When We Stopped Selling Execution
A phrase from an unrelated podcast explained something I'd circled for a year: the gap holding businesses back isn't execution anymore. It's trust, and it's in three places.
Your Story Stopped Matching Your Business About Three Years Ago
Somewhere along the way, your story stopped catching up with you. Here's why it happens to almost every growing business — and what to do about it.
You've Tried Everything and Nothing Is Landing
There's a sentence I hear from founders and CMOs at least once a week now, usually about ten minutes into a first conversation. They say it almost apologetically, like it's an admission: "We've tried everything and nothing is working." They have, in fact, tried everything. What they haven't done is the thing that would actually move the needle.
The Trust Gap: What Lost Belief Costs Your Business
A founder I've known for years told me she'd spent the better part of a year doing more — more posts, more email, more ads — and the needle hadn't moved. She wanted to know what she was missing. Honestly, I've been having some version of this conversation for two years now, and almost nobody is naming what's actually going on.
Your 90-day content plan won't work until you do this first
Most 90-day content plans collapse by week three. Not because the calendar is wrong — because the story underneath it isn't built yet. Here's the upstream work to do first.
The Story I Told Myself about Showing Up
For a long time, I thought I had a showing up problem. Turns out I had a clarity problem. Here’s how I figured out the difference — and why it changed everything about how I communicate.
What Does Your Brand Actually Sound Like?
Your brand is speaking right now — whether you've defined its voice or not. Here's a practical, no-fluff exercise to help you figure out what your brand actually sounds like, put it on paper, and make sure it stays yours.
Why Your Content Isn’t Converting
If your content looks consistent but isn’t converting, it’s probably not an execution problem. It’s a direction problem. Here’s what’s actually missing—and how to fix it.
What a Content Calendar Can’t Fix
A content calendar can help you stay organized and consistent—but it won’t fix deeper issues in your marketing. Here’s what it can’t solve (and what actually will).
Why We’re Talking About AI at Go Girl
AI is changing how businesses create content—but not always for the better. At Go Girl, we’re exploring how to use AI thoughtfully without losing clarity, connection, or trust. This is the conversation we believe actually matters.
What Actually Happens in a Marketing Strategy Session
Many business owners think a marketing strategy session is about tactics and to-do lists. In reality, the most valuable sessions uncover something deeper—clarity. Here’s what actually happens in a marketing strategy conversation and why it changes how businesses approach their marketing.
Before You Create Another Piece of Content, Ask Yourself This
Creating more content isn’t usually the problem. Most businesses simply haven’t paused long enough to ask three simple questions that turn content from noise into meaningful communication.
Stop Starting Over Every Quarter
Every quarter, business owners feel the urge to start over — new goals, new platforms, new messaging. But constant reinvention doesn’t build momentum. In this article, we explore why refining your marketing strategy leads to stronger, steadier growth — and how to approach Q2 with clarity instead of chaos.
How to Know If Your Marketing Is Out of Alignment
If your marketing feels busy but not effective, you may not have a content problem — you may have an alignment problem. Here’s a simple checklist to help you spot when your messaging, strategy, and execution aren’t working together — and how to fix it.
If Your Audience Is Confused, They Won’t Convert
If your audience doesn’t clearly understand what you do and who it’s for, they won’t convert. This post explores how confusion creeps in, why clarity builds trust, and how positioning cuts through the noise.
Valentine’s Day Isn’t About Romance—It’s About Connection (And So Is Marketing)
Valentine’s Day isn’t really about romance—it’s about connection. And the same is true for marketing. The brands that build trust and loyalty aren’t the loudest or flashiest; they’re the ones that make people feel understood, seen, and confident choosing them.
If Your Brand Disappeared for 30 Days, Would Anyone Miss It?
If your brand disappeared for 30 days, would anyone miss it? This thought-provoking question reveals the difference between simply being visible and building a brand people truly connect with—and why showing up isn’t the same as standing out.