✨the SPARK 204 ~ It's Me, Hi, I'm the Problem

Are You the Target Audience?

There are very few reality TV shows I can stomach.

The ones I do watch (and I don’t know if these would be considered “reality”) are home, travel, and baking shows.

What I like about these shows is I can have them on in the background if I’m on my laptop (or playing Rummikub on my iPad 😜), and I don’t have to worry about missing anything important.

I’ve been watching the Christmas Cookie Challenge lately (don’t judge, haha), and as much as I love seeing the cookie creations, the race against the clock and the stress (and disappointment) of the bakers cause me angst.

And, of course, now I want to try my hand at cookie decorating.

Besides hating the drama of other reality TV shows (to each their own), there’s one thing that hit me like a ton of bricks… I’m not their target audience.

I know, duh.

When talking to a friend this week, I had the same thought about my business and the content I consume— it was a bit of an epiphany.

I was talking about my move to Substack and telling her that the energy is a completely different vibe (refreshing) but that there are also a lot of people who are doing the “I started writing, I had some success, now let me teach you how to make money writing.”

First…there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s how we learn.

I did something similar with WordPress when I was The WPChick. The content I created was me sharing what I was learning.

The challenge here is that it’s really easy to start sounding like everyone else - unless you’re also writing in another niche or category (not only “writing about making money writing.”).

That being said… here’s my epiphany.

I’m not part of this target audience either.

Yes, another “duh” moment.

In other words, “It’s Me, Hi, I’m the Problem, It’s Me.”

It’s not that that type of content isn’t valuable or helps people, but it’s not the type of help I need at this stage of my business.

Regardless of the platform or type of content you’re creating (audio, written, video), if you’ve been consistently creating, at some point, the best way to grow is to go deeper, not wider (i.e., not simply more of the same).

Some examples of going deeper:

• If your focus is on writing and you’ve been gaining traction, maybe you need to spend more time editing or writing headlines. Make sure you split test two headlines (where applicable) with each post you write.

• If video is your focus, can you improve your thumbnails and descriptions? You might need to research your niche and read through more comments to find where viewers have questions and create a different style video (I just learned this tip! Thanks, Jason!).

• If audio (podcasting) is your focus, can you look at your analytics, analyze which episodes have performed best, record more of those, or test a special series?

• With all of this type of content, maybe where you need to go deeper is with promotion.

And don’t forget to ASK your subscribers - whether it’s a poll or a simple “reply to this email and let me know.”

Another great way to get some data is to email your subscribers with the subject line, “Can you help me?”

That led to my decision to change the name to ✨the SPARK (from #FtheHUSTLE).

I wasn’t even thinking about changing the name until I asked, “Does #FtheHUSTLE resonate with you? If so, why? If not, why not?”

I got so many responses and incredible feedback… it blew me away.

All of this is to say that sometimes, when we feel stuck, uninspired, or not terribly motivated, maybe it’s time to step back and go within.

Growth and change happen when we step outside of our comfort zones. Don’t be afraid to expand your circle and go deeper.

Give yourself some time to develop your new skills. It’s easy to feel wobbly and want to return to what’s comfortable.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Neale Donald Walsch

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SPARK Spotlight 🔥

I think this is quickly going to become a favorite tool.

It’s a magical combination of AI, planning, outlining, expanding on ideas, collaborating, and more. One prompt, and you’ve got multiple cards for your project.

Introducing Cove

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A Little Brainpower 🧠

Is YouTube part of your content strategy? “9 Powerful Ways To Promote Your YouTube Channel.”

You may have been told this… if so, this is for you. “Everyone says I should write a book.”

Have you tried NotebookLM from Google? Is it the ultimate notetaking & research tool or the new Cliff Notes? “Is NotebookLM the New CliffsNotes? (The Answer May Surprise You).”

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Tool Time 🛠

• E-commerce: As I streamline things, I was looking at options for digital products and came across Sellfy, an easy all-in-one platform. Try Sellfy free here.

• Screenshots: Another option for creating beautiful screenshots with gradient backgrounds, shadows, and more. Use Savvyshot free here or a one-time price.

• Email Marketing: Another email service provider has entered the arena… and the price may be hard to beat. Use the Seamailer free account here.

• Notion: There is so much you can do with Notion… and now you can schedule your social media from within Notion, too. Try NotionScheduler free here.

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YES! Glad I’m not the only one 😂

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Well, I’ve been back in California for a whole week, and it feels great, even with the heat wave.

I’m just about settled in (still waiting on my new desk to arrive) and enjoying the feel of fall around the corner.

I still have some housekeeping to do on Substack for this publication, but I think I’m going to document the journey of “Women, Wisdom, & Wealth” through my “Kim Doyal” Substack (where this newsletter lives).

This will be the strategy, growth, and general thoughts about the platform.

I’ll do that first update next week.

But I can tell you… so far, so good. Zero regrets.

And my heart goes out to everyone who has been affected (or will potentially be affected) by the hurricanes in the US.

Stay safe, my friends,
Kim