Friends with Business Benefits

We’re kicking off the new year with our annual cosy conversation about reflections and intentions. Find out what went well for us last year and what we learned from the things that didn’t. We also chat about our words of the year, share a few goals for 2024, and make some solid(ish) plans for Q1. Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Join us as we run through some of our non-business related 2023 favs. We chat about our favourite films, TV shows, music and books, as well as discussing the purchases we've made, habits we've followed, experiences we've enjoyed and places we've been. An episode full of recommendations for you! Thank you for listening throughout 2023 and a very merry christmas from us both! Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this mini episode we’re jumping on a TikTok trend and sharing a list of things that make our business worlds better. From daily habits and wellbeing rituals to clever software and our favourite tech, there’s plenty of inspiration for everyone. Links and Further Reading: Franky's favs... 'What is Comentoring' podcast episode Boatman VA services Circle planner Charlie's favs... Trello 101 Get 50% off Flodesk (aff link) Lunar diary by Nikki Strange Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we’re talking about putting your prices up. It’s a topic we originally planned to discuss this time last year, but when we came to record, neither of us felt up to discussing money on mic. Not only is it a tricky subject to broach - increasing your prices can be a tricky thing to act on in your business. 12 months later, we’re finally ready to explore this subject with you. Franky shares what she’s learned from increasing her prices at the start of the year and Charlie talks about her desire to focus on the money side of things more in 2024. As well as discussing where we are with our own pricing, we share tips and advice to help you with yours. Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Inspired by Halloween earlier this week, we’re sharing things that give us the business scaries! For Charlie, it’s overcommitting, public speaking and talking to camera, while Franky struggles to share her professional expertise on Instagram and record voiceovers for reels. As well as discussing where these fears come from, we explore ways in which we might be able to overcome them. Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we’re going over some Instagram basics and sharing tips to help you overcome common stumbling blocks and avoid overwhelm. As well as things like writing the perfect bio and using your pinned posts effectively, we cover stats and data, content ideas, trends and more. We also discuss mindset in relation to the app and run through a few ways to prevent it from sucking the joy out of running your business. Links and Further Reading/Listening Embracing and Creating Video Content How We Use Instagram Stories for Business What Happened When Charlie Went Viral? How to Stop Hating on Instagram When and Why to Mute and Unfollow on Instagram Work With Us *** Book an Instagram Audit with Charlie *** charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

91. Q3 Reflections, Q4 Intentions In this episode, we’re reflecting on Quarter 3 and looking ahead to Quarter 4. Find out what felt good, what didn’t and what we’ve learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they’ve been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the final three months of the year and discuss what we’re both hoping to achieve before the end of 2023. Links and Further Reading Being Freelance Visibility Talks Sparkle on Substack Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

The online world is fast paced. There’s always something new to discover. New software, new social media platforms, new types of content. When it comes to trying new things in your business, do you tend to feel overwhelmed or excited? Today’s episode was recorded back in July when we were both in the early stages of trying some new things. Charlie was experimenting with the recently launched social media platform, Threads, and Franky was posting to a brand new crafty account on Instagram. Our experiences inspired a broader conversation about trying new things in general. You’ll hear us discuss ‘shiny new thing syndrome’, the pros and cons of being an early adopter, and whether being ‘late to the party’ is actually a good thing. We also chat about the power of FOMO and how we figure out when to embrace new things, when to bide our time and when to sit things out completely. Links and Further Reading Episode Are You Going to Start a Substack? Franky’s crafty Instagram account Charlie on Threads Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Inspired by a recent video from Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, today’s episode is dedicated to one of the app’s older features - Instagram Stories. It may not be as shiny and new as Reels or Threads, but it’s still a valuable marketing tool, not to mention Franky’s favourite place to hang out online! We chat about how we use Instagram Stories, the pros and cons of the platform, and the types of content we share. We also discuss the role of DMs and share some tips for showing up and telling stories of your own. Links and Further Reading How the Algorithm Works Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

As we head into what should be the warmest, sunniest part of the year, we’re sharing how we embrace and survive the summer season. Whether you love this time of year or not, there’s something in this episode for everyone. As well as discussing how we’re planning to juggle work and childcare during the six-week summer break, we’re sharing some of our favourite seasonal rituals and lots of advice to help you get the most out of this time of year. Links and Further Reading The Cosy Episode Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this chatty episode, we’re reflecting on Quarter 2 and looking ahead to Quarter 3. Find out what felt good, what didn’t and what we’ve learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they’ve been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the next three months of the year and discuss what we’re both hoping to achieve before the end of the summer. Links and Further Reading Maddy Shine’s Visible Vibes Community Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

When you’re working towards a specific business goal or dream, how do you get on with self-imposed deadlines? Do you find them easy to stick to or do you avoid setting them in the first place? In this episode, we’re responding to a listener's question, digging into the subject of deadlines and sharing everything we know about getting things done. As well as discussing different types of deadlines and different strategies for meeting them, we touch on what it might mean if you keep dodging the deadlines you set. Links and Further Reading Playing Big by Tara Mohr Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we’re approaching the topic of feedback from a few different angles. For Franky, asking clients for feedback is baked into her working process. As a copywriter, she produces drafts for clients to review. The quality of the feedback she receives can have a huge impact on the final product. Over the years, she’s worked hard to ensure this happens in a thorough and efficient way. She’s also learned a lot about moving through the discomfort that can come from inviting criticism. Although Franky’s examples are fairly specific to copywriting, there are useful takeaways for anyone considering outsourcing things in their business. Charlie offers her perspective too and considers whether she’s missing any opportunities for requesting feedback and improving her services. Links and Further Reading The Power of Testimonials and Reviews Friends with Business Boundaries Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

After a year of regularly creating and sharing reels on Instagram, Charlie recently had a video go viral. In this episode, we’re chatting about her experience and what it feels like to suddenly have so many eyes on your content. As well as digging into the reasons why this particular reel seems to have done so well, Charlie explains what she’s learned and how she’ll be approaching future content creation as a result. Links and Further Reading Embracing and Creating Video Content Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we're discussing what makes a good email lead magnet. We share our differing stances on having lead magnets in our businesses, chat through the pros and cons of differnt types of lead magnets and how to choose one that aligns with your strategy. We also share what to do once you have your lead magnet in place, how to buil an email nuture sequence and how to make the most of your content. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

This week, inspired by Charlie’s recent experience launching three new services, we’re talking about naming things within your business. We know this can be a huge obstacle when you’re creating new products and packages. After all, if you want to sell something, you’ve got to know what it’s called! Franky offers a copywriter’s perspective, sharing tips and advice to make the process a little easier. As well as describing different ways to approach naming things, she explains the importance of clarity and highlights a few things to avoid. Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

It’s that time again! We’re reflecting on Quarter 1 and sharing what felt good, what didn’t and what we’ve learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they’ve been showing up for us since our last check-in. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the next three months and discuss what we’re hoping to achieve before the end of Quarter 2. Links and Further Reading The Best 90 Days Ever (affiliate link) Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

This week we’re responding to a listener request and diving into the popular topic of routines. We’re sharing how we approach the working week and juggle running a business alongside other responsibilities like looking after our children and managing a chronic health condition. As well as describing our morning and evening routines, we’re chatting about what our working weeks look like, how our rhythms and routines have changed over the years and why we strive to keep things nice and flexible. We’re in very different seasons of life, so there should be something useful and/or inspiring for everyone in this episode! Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Seasons of stress and overwhelm are nothing new, especially if you run your own business, but has our ability to cope been impacted by the pandemic and other world events over the last few years? It certainly looks that way from where we’re standing. In this episode, we’re chatting about our current capacity for stress and how we think our resilience has been affected by everything we’ve lived through since March 2020. We’re also sharing our go-to methods for coping with overwhelm, including radical prioritisation, single tasking, self-compassion and simple practices to calm your nervous system. Links and Further Reading Is Stress Inevitable When You’re Self-Employed? Some Thoughts on Dropping Balls Why We Love Ta-Da Lists Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Although working from home can provide the perfect opportunity to eat well, it’s easy to slip into bad habits. Eating at your desk, skipping lunch completely and surviving on caffeine and biscuits. Before we were business besties, we bonded over our love of food. In this episode, we’re talking about the things we cook and eat while working from home. As well as being a love letter to lunch breaks, it’s the encouragement you need to start building some nourishing habits into your work days. Links and Further Reading Glucose Goddess Dr. Tim Spector Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Have you heard the Japanese phrase ‘techo kagai’? Roughly translated, it means ‘planner meeting’ - taking the time to review your previous year's planner and journals and decide what you’ll use for the year ahead. In this episode, we’re holding our own techo kagai and sharing our planner plans for 2023. From bullet journaling fails to the notebooks and diaries we’re investing in this year, it’s a must-listen for stationery fans and those who prefer pen and paper-based productivity tools. Links and Further Reading Ella Iconic Pretty Post Nikki Strange Lethally Her Katiekplans Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

We’re kicking off the new year with our usual cosy conversation about reflections and intentions. Discover what went well for us last year and what we learned from the things that didn’t as we get a little honest and vunerable about finding 2022 a tough year. We also chat about our words of the year, share our goals for 2023, and make some solid(ish) plans for Q1. Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we’re sharing a list of things we’ve loved this year. From books and films to our best business investment, small habit and more, you’ll find lots to inspire and excite you as 2022 draws to a close. Books... Sorrow & Bliss The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois Outlawed TV Shows... Dopesick The Dropout The Bear The Sandman Movies... Everything Everywhere All At Once Westside Story The Father Albums... First Aid Kit - Palomino Wet Leg - Wet Leg Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Porridge Radio - Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky Shopping small... Note & Wish OffOn Clothing Food accounts... @mississippivegan @mob The Hatch Cabin Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

We LOVE a list, so why not dedicate a whole episode to the simple, yet powerful practice of list writing? In this chatty episode, we explain why we find lists so helpful and how we use them, covering those we rely on for work and the ones we use more generally in our personal lives. As well as obvious things like monthly/weekly/daily to-do lists and meal plans, we share some creative ideas like Franky’s ‘greatest hits’ list and the simple, seasonal bucket lists Charlie shares on Instagram each month. We close with some top tips to help you get the most out of your lists and make sure they’re more than just words on a page. Links and Further Reading Emma Cossey on Sunsama Why We Love Ta-Da Lists Bradshaw & Sons Gretchen Rubin ‘22 for 2022’ Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

If you want to create and share long-from content, Substack seems like the place to be right now. Is it just ‘shiny new thing syndrome’ or should we all be jumping on board? In this episode, we’re discussing the newsletter platform in detail, explaining how it works and sharing whether we think it has a role to play in our marketing efforts. We dig into the pros and cons, chat about paid content and subscription models and share whether we see ourselves using Substack in the future. Charlie’s pretty keen, Franky has some reservations, but never say never! Work With Us Love-audrey.com charlieswift.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

As we head into the darker, colder months of the year, we’re sharing how we embrace and survive the autumn/winter season. Whether you love this time of year or not, there’s something in this mini-episode for everyone. Charlie describes some of her favourite seasonal rituals and Franky raves about her beloved thermal leggings. From making our homes feel cosy to working from home when it’s cold, we share tips and advice to help you get the most out of this time of year. Links and Further Reading The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater Wintering by Katherine May M&S Thermal Leggings Franky’s Wrist Warmers Charlie’s Autumnal Playlist Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Does your business have a niche? If not, should it? And how do you figure out what it is if so? These are the big questions we’re addressing in this week’s episode. As well as explaining what a niche is and why defining yours could benefit your business, we discuss our own experiences of niching, and in Franky’s case, letting that niche evolve into something new. We also chat about the different types of niches and share some simple tips to help you identify your own. Links and Further Reading: Listen to our interview on The Building Your Brand Podcast Work With Us love-audrey.com charlieswift.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Subscribe to Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Given the cost of living crisis, perhaps many of us have been thinking about how sustainable it is to run a creative business. In this mini episode, we’re going through some things to consider in those moments you feel like jacking it all in. We chat about the importance of checking in with yourself and getting clear on what stumbling blocks you are facing and figuring out if issues are related to life or business (or both). We discuss pivoting your business to adapt, adopting a hybrid business model and some things to think through if returning to traditional employment is feeling appealing. Links and Further Reading... When your successful business isn't what you want, Hashtag Authentic podcast with Jane Lindsey. Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back from our summer break! In this chatty episode, we’re reflecting on Quarters 2 and 3 and looking ahead to Quarter 4. Find out what felt good, what didn’t and what we’ve learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they’ve been showing up for us since we last spoke. As well as sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for the final three months of the year and discuss what we’re both hoping to achieve before the end of 2022. Links and Further Reading We Can Do Hard Things Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

As we’ve touched on previously, there’s a lot of negativity out there about video right now, specifically in relation to Instagram and TikTok. But however we might personally feel about the rise of video content, there's no denying it’s become an integral part of the consumer journey. In this episode we're exploring how we might shift our mindsets a little and see video as an opportunity for creative play. We chat about what we enjoy about creating video and share lots of practical tips for filming your own content and discuss the time and investment involved. Links and further reading... Xanthe Berkeley film courses Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Is your content working hard enough? In this mini episode, we’re reminding you to repurpose the marketing assets you spend so much time and energy creating for your business. We explain the benefits of this approach, the things we do to extend the lifespan of our content, and share some quick tips to help you repurpose your own. Links and Further Reading Wavve.co Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

We can’t be the only ones who’ve noticed a lot of negativity and hate in relation to Instagram recently. This week, in a follow-up to a popular episode from last year, we’re digging into some of the most common frustrations. From the rise of reels to the demise of organic reach and engagement, we approach the topic with a mix of empathy and tough love, sharing tips and advice to help you improve your experience on the platform and regain control of its role in your business. Because whether we like it or not, Instagram has changed, so our mindset and the way we use it need to catch up. Links and Further Reading What Would Your Business Look Like If Instagram Disappeared? Work With Us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Running a home and running a business are intrinsically linked. What goes on behind-the-scenes can have a huge impact on your ability to work, serve others and be creative. This week, we’re sharing the basics we rely on to keep our lives running smoothly so we can show up fully in our respective businesses. From meal planning to cleaning schedules, discover what we’ve outsourced, automated and simplified to make our lives just that little bit easier. Links and Further Reading The Organised Mum Method Friends with Business Boundaries Plugging Energy Leaks Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin Work with us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

You know those outstanding tasks you can feel hanging over you? The things you never get around to doing but spend a lot of time thinking about? Whether business, personal or domestic, they’re probably draining your mental energy. In this mini episode, we’re sharing some quick tips to help you tackle the tasks you keep putting off. From brain dumps to being your ‘future friend’, find out how to plug those energy leaks and free up headspace for more important things. Links and Further Reading The Slow Home Podcast - Rituals: Brain Dump Sarah Starrs on Plugging Energy Leaks Work with us charlieswift.com love-audrey.com Find us on Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this chatty episode, we’re looking back on the first three months of the year and ahead to Quarter 2. Find out what felt good, what didn’t and what we’ve learned in the process. We also talk about our words of the year and how they’ve been showing up for us so far. After sharing a few sources of creative inspiration, we dig into our plans for Q2 and discuss what we’re both hoping to achieve before the end of June. Links and Further Reading Friends with Business Boundaries Franky’s Mailing List Charlie’s Mailing List Playing Big by Tara Mohr Circle of Pines Little Stories of Your Life by Laura Pashby Elise Joy Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

When was the last time you received a testimonial or review? More importantly, when was the last time you asked for one? In this mini episode, we’re discussing how to gather testimonials and what to do with them once they start rolling in. Given how powerful they can be, there’s also a brief reminder to leave testimonials and reviews for the products and services you use, love and enjoy {including podcasts!}. Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

This week we’re chatting about healthy boundaries. What are they? Why do we need them? And how do you establish and enforce them? As well as sharing the boundaries we lean on in our own businesses, we discuss some of the challenges involved in upholding them. Franky describes dealing with the discomfort that can arise when a client doesn’t like hearing the word ‘no’ and Charlie reflects on building boundaries as a busy working mama. Links and Further Reading Creating a Seamless, On-Brand Customer Experience Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

When was the last time you curated your Instagram feed? In this week’s mini episode, we’re discussing the power of muting and unfollowing accounts. Discover what usually prompts us to hit the mute button, the potential benefits and why we think life’s too short for ‘hate follows’. We also touch on some upcoming changes to Instagram and share a few questions to ask yourself the next time you open the app. Links and Further Reading 'What would your business look like if Instagram disappeared?' - Listen to Episode 54 to hear more of our thoughts on using Instagram to promote your business. Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s mini episode, we’re discussing the benefits of writing a regular ta-da list and encouraging you to give this simple practice a go. Discover what a ta-da list is, why Franky is so passionate about them, and how to start writing your own. Don’t forget to tag us in your ta-da lists on Instagram! Links and Further Reading Ta-Da Lists on the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Friends with Business Benefits is back! We’re kicking off the new year with our usual cosy conversation about reflections and intentions. Discover what went well for us last year and what we learned from the things that didn’t. We also chat about our words of the year, share our goals for 2022, and make some solid(ish) plans for Q1. Links and Further Reading Charlie’s word of the year Franky says hello to 2022 ‘Wintering’ by Katherine May Find Us On Instagram @loveaudrey83 @_charlieswift Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this chatty episode, we’re delving into intentional living and how intention setting can benefit creative business owners. Charlie takes us through some practices for becoming more intentional in our work and life. We discuss seasons in business and why it’s so important to set goals and intentions that align with the season you’re currently in. This episode includes: Intention setting as part of a meditation practice. Journaling for intentional living. Navigating seasons in business, life and parenthood. Intention setting practices for your year, month and week. Links and further reading/listening: Jen Carrington on living and working in seasons. Tara Swiger on seasons in business. Sas Pertherick on goals and intentions. Gretchen Rubin’s Happier at Home book. A short Yoga Nidra meditation. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Drawing on knowledge gained from over decade spent working in retail, Franky chats all things customer service and shares how she applies many of the same principles in her online business. As well as discussing why it’s so important to create an intentional, positive customer journey or experience, we dive into different approaches and methods to help you shape yours. This episode includes: - Why the customer journey is important for building brand loyalty. - Different approaches to customer service and how they can be applied to running an online business. - Why you need to focus on how you want customers to feel. - Using the five love languages to create a positive customer experience. - Templates, automation and client gifts. Links and further reading/listening: Babes on Waves: How you can apply the 5 love languages your business to build relationships. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

“The key to juggling is to know that some of the balls you have in the air are made of plastic and some are made of glass.” Inspired by this Nora Roberts quote, we’re discussing the difference between dropping balls and intentionally placing them down. As well as sharing ways to strip things back in business and life to survive the current lockdown, we talk about tapping into your support network during tough times. We also ponder what becomes of our business goals and dreams when circumstances beyond our control are forcing us to put things on hold. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

Professional Copywriter Franky covers why an About Page is so important and shares her advice to help you fill yours with engaging copy. And before you ask, yes, people will read it! The episode includes: Why there’s no one-size fits all approach to creating copy. The importance of telling a story. Creative ways to showcase your personality and build a connection with potential clients. Why your About Page needs to be a stepping stone, not a dead end. Why a headshot should be your one non-negotiable Why readability is more important than overall word count. Lots more tips and advice! Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

It’s time for our annual reflection as we say goodbye to another year. In a year that has of course been overshadowed by a global pandemic, we’re discussing our highs and lows in business during 2020. We’re discussing what worked well for us, struggles we faced, what they taught us and the habits that help get us through the tough times. We also chat about our words of the year and share our “Big sexy goals” for 2021. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

As we reach the end of a tough year, we’ve noticed the topic of resilience coming up regularly in conversations we’re having and content we’re seeing. In this episode, we delve into what it means to show resilience as a creative business owner and ask how we can cultivate more - during a global pandemic or otherwise. Using an article from Psychology Today as the basis for our conversation, we chat through the ‘seven skills of resilience’, discussing how we might apply them to running a business and touching on things like support systems, mindset and more. The seven skills of resilience: 1: Cultivate a Belief in Your Ability to Cope 2: Stay Connected With Sources of Support 3: Talk About What You’re Going Through 4: Be Helpful to Others 5: Activate Positive Emotion 6: Cultivate an Attitude of Survivorship 7: Seek Meaning Links and further reading/listening: Seven Skills of Resilience Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

After an extended hiatus, we’re back with season four. Kicking off with a bit of a reintroduction, we chat about what work looks like for us both right now in our respective businesses and share a little about what’s lighting us up professionally. This podcast was recorded in person - socially distanced, of course - before the second lockdown happened in the UK. The episode includes… - A reintroduction from Charlie and Franky and an overview of our respective businesses. - A brief chat about comentoring and the origins of our podcast. - A passionate conversation about creativity, small business and working with clients that ‘get you’. - The things we would create if we had unlimited time to do so. - What success means to us right now. - Our focus for the last couple months of the year. - Ideas for managing your energy as we end this crazy, exhausting year. Links and further reading/listening: Previous episode - What is co-mentoring? (And why you need a co-mentor in your life!) Work with us... charlieswift.com/creativebusinessmentoring https://www.love-audrey.com/services Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back for our first episode since March, catching up and sharing what life and business has been like for us both during lockdown. During this midyear check-in, we chat about finding a balance between taking bold leaps in business and working slowly but surely towards long-term goals. This episode includes… - A quick check-in with our 2020 goals. - Our thoughts on letting go of disappointment and canceled plans. - Advice on approaching goal setting within our “new normal”. - The pros and cons of chipping away at long term goals vs taking leaps. - Ideas to help you tackle new opportunities with less perfectionism. - Our plans for creating digital products before the end of this year. Links & further reading/listening... Tara Mohr on taking leaps. Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Charlie and Franky catch up about life during the lockdown. We discuss how we’re feeling, how things have changed for us in life and business and chat through the things many of us are dealing with right now. We cover homeschooling, showing up online during these strange times and the positives we're finding in the situation. Plus, Franky shares some insight on bringing her business back from the brink and why it's ok to be surviving not thriving Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Charlie and Franky catch-up and discuss how 2020 is treating them so far. Off the back of Franky’s less than perfect start to the year, we’re deep-diving into surviving rough patches and challenging times in your business. With a new month and season upon us, we’re also thinking about pressing ‘reset’ and discussing why March is the perfect time for a fresh start. This episode includes… - Advice on coping with a rough patch in your creative business. - Some great tips from our community for regaining self-confidence when it’s taken a knock. - How to have a fresh start whenever you need one. - Self-care strategies during stressful times. - How we create rhythms that prioritise the things that are most important to us. Links & further reading/listening... Slow Home Podcast on Rhythms Seedling podcast on Self-Worth Get full access to Friends with Business Benefits at friendswithbusinessbenefits.substack.com/subscribe