My brain is to blame for my fear of other people’s opinions (FOPO) as named by Michael Gervais, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You.  Designed for survival, our brains constantly scan the environment for danger. Thousands of years ago, it was useful…

Building a brand story that feels “real” matters to customers. Billions of content pieces pushed out per day translate to an extraordinarily noisy market. Nowadays, a great product is not enough to capture the attention and loyalty of customers. Fierce competition and saturated markets make it crucial for startups to build a compelling brand story…

Even with a promising business idea, many startups struggle to communicate their vision clearly. If you struggle with this as a tech startup founder, it is VERY hard to fundraise – particularly if you’re conducting cold outreach. But it’s not impossible! However, you must build a compelling pitch deck for doors to open. If you…

I lied when I announced on LinkedIn my recent career move as a consultant at OakBloom Marketing.  A friend called me out on my half-truth posting, “Congratulations, but why didn’t you say CEO?”  My heart sank. She was right: I downplayed my role in my new venture as a startup founder. Perhaps it was a…

With the past two Super Bowl Sundays, NFL fans were excited to see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles respectively.  However, unlike in previous years, a new demographic of fans has been consistently tuning in – Taylor Swift fans.  It’s amazing to see the Swifty phenomenon – Taylor Swift’s…

Like many, I dread tax season – staring at a stack of tax documents, feeling the weight of impending deadlines and the tediousness of navigating paperwork. Sure, there are self-service tools like TurboTax, and I’ve heard tales of the brave souls who tackle taxes solo. But let’s be real – does doing your taxes yourself…

Building a rock-solid brand is no small feat. For technology startups with limited resources and high competition, it can feel nearly impossible to break through. So, what’s the difference between a well-established brand and a startup freshly launching from stealth? Credibility. Credibility begets audience trust, and audience trust begets brand loyalty. How can startups build…

Level Up by Investing in Yourself and Transform Your Personal Brand Story In life, there’s so much out of our control. Sleepless nights, and angst from the anxiety, stress, and uncertainty from the economy and our careers. We’ve all felt it at some point — feeling stuck at work. Perhaps, we don’t feel seen or…

As an entrepreneur, you wear many hats—visionary, leader, strategist, and spokesperson. But have you considered that your personal branding strategy is just as crucial to your business’ success as its product or service? Your personal brand can significantly impact your company’s reputation, credibility, and growth potential. Here are five personal branding tips to improve it:…

As a tech startup, your brand story is critical. A strong brand impression can make the difference between securing investor funding, turning a prospect into a loyal customer, or falling short of your goals. What makes it even more challenging? The attention span of your target audience is shorter than ever; it takes only a…