LinkedIn tips, business tips, and marketing tips for coaches, consultants, speakers, authors, solopreneurs & small business o

Brenda Meller
  • 5.0 (11)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Enthusiastically Self-Employed is designed for you if you’re self-employed as a coach, consultant, speaker, author, solopreneur, or small business owner. Listen in for business, marketing, and LinkedIn tips, sprinkled in with stories along the way.   Listen to Enthusiastically Self-Employed for education and insights to help you to be successful and support the love you have of your business, while also supporting your bottom line. That means growing your revenue, reducing your expenses, and optimizing your processes.Download a FREE LinkedIn Checklist:www.mellermarketing.com/checklists

  1. Member Spotlight: 1-to-1 Coaching with Elaine Belson - Ep 212

    1D AGO

    Member Spotlight: 1-to-1 Coaching with Elaine Belson - Ep 212

    Overthinking can look like “being responsible,” but it often feels like you’re stuck in your own head with no exit. We’re putting the spotlight on Elaine Belson, a self-authority coach, speaker, psychotherapist, and Army veteran, to talk about what really helps when you’re hard on yourself, constantly second-guessing, or relying on other people’s reactions to feel OK. Elaine breaks down her one-to-one coaching, including a 60-minute mindset reset and a 90-minute deep dive (plus discounted multi-session packages). We dig into the patterns that keep women trapped in self-criticism and people pleasing, and why building self-authority means learning to trust your instincts, set boundaries without looking for permission, and practice self-validation instead of using others as mirrors. You’ll hear memorable frameworks you can actually use: overthinking is like chocolate cake (comforting, but not a solution), the six types of overthinking, and why emotions are information just like hunger or pain. Elaine also shares the “Columbo” approach to growth (curious, not judgmental) and a powerful reframe for boundaries she calls the opposite of the golden rule. We even get into her story of joining the Army at 42 and what that says about choosing a bigger impact. If you want practical mindset coaching, emotional intelligence tools, and a clearer path to confident decisions, this conversation will give you a solid starting point. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck in overthinking, and leave a review to help more people find the show.  00:00 Member Spotlight Intro 01:37 Meet Elaine Belson 03:02 Elaine’s Background Mantras 04:28 One to One Coaching Offer 04:43 Who It’s For and How It Helps 07:13 How Clients Find and Book 09:45 Who It’s Not For 10:38 Audience Q and A Stories 14:16 Trends Overthinking Chocolate Cake 16:10 Army Veteran Story Barbie Moment 22:57 Self Validation and Mirroring 25:48 Wrap Up Links and Community Events 30:08 Final Thanks and Close Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainebelsonlcsw/ Visit Elaine's website: https://www.theselfauthoritycoach.com/ Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    32 min
  2. Your Next LinkedIn Post Is Already In Your Inbox - Ep 211

    MAY 18

    Your Next LinkedIn Post Is Already In Your Inbox - Ep 211

    In this podcast episode, I turn a real client email into a simple LinkedIn content framework that can help you demonstrate expertise without sharing private details.  I also break down what to do after a post performs well so engagement turns into actual conversations, not just likes.  • pulling content ideas from emails, texts, and DMs we already receive  • anonymizing client context while keeping the lesson useful  • evaluating a LinkedIn post using reactions and comments as signals  • reviewing reactors for reconnection and follow-up opportunities  • inviting second- and third-degree people to connect with a personal note  • replying to every comment to improve etiquette and reach  • keeping posts conversational so they do not read like AI  • using fewer, relevant hashtags and keeping expectations realistic  00:00 Why I Published Today 00:37 Turn Questions Into Content 01:05 Anonymized Client Post Review 03:00 Follow Up On Reactions 05:12 Reply to Every Comment 05:52 Sound Human Not AI 06:44 Hashtags and SEO Reality 08:07 Wrap Up and Call to Action Shout out to Podcasting Business School: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-business-school/id1439327697  QUESTIONS? You can email me at Brenda at MellerMarketing.com.  Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    10 min
  3. How to Curate Content That Prospects / Candidates Actually Trust - Ep 210

    MAY 11

    How to Curate Content That Prospects / Candidates Actually Trust - Ep 210

    QUESTION: How do I curate valuable content that builds trust for prospects & candidates? This episode answers an audience question. 00:00 Welcome and Audience Question 00:15 VIP Email List Workflow 02:00 Trust Building Basics 03:14 Prospect Content Strategy 03:46 LinkedIn vs YouTube Monetization 07:06 Content for Candidates 08:31 Organizing Past Episodes 09:32 Podcast Episodes to Reference 15:12 Turning Podcasts Into Blogs 16:02 Blogs and Masterclass Ideas 18:41 Testimonials and Social Proof 19:24 Wrap Up and Next Steps Podcast Episodes Referenced: 191: AI Can’t Do This: Answer Your LinkedIn Questions buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/18198338  184: How Speaking Can Help You Showcase Your Business and Expertise. buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/17940730182: This Week’s LinkedIn Questions: How to Get a Bigger Slice of the LinkedIn Pie. buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/17874958163: Tips for Posting on Your LinkedIn Company Page. buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/17148531132: Trifecta Talks (with Michelle B. Griffin and Michelle J. Raymond) buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/15914620118: SEO Tips for Entrepreneurs (with Rachel Lindteigen) buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/15465378110: How to use FAQs as content featuring a question buzzsprout.com/2162051/episodes/15400028 Blogs Referenced: AI Can’t Do This: Answer Your LinkedIn Questions mellermarketing.com/blog/why-brenda-meller-is-better-than-chatGPT-at-answering-linkedin-questionsReminding People What You Do Is Good Marketing mellermarketing.com/blog/reminding-people-what-you-do-is-good-marketingAmazing Virtual Marketing Masterclasses to Supercharge Your Business mellermarketing.com/blog/amazing-virtual-marketing-masterclasses-marketing-with-mellerBlog on LinkedIn: Why Bother? mellermarketing.com/blog/blog-on-linkedin-why-botherWanna Grow Your Business? Ask Your Clients for Testimonials mellermarketing.com/blog/leverage-raving-customers-to-find-more-customers Join my VIP Email List: mellermarketing Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    21 min
  4. Member Spotlight: Go High Level with Carrie Saunders Ep 209

    MAY 4

    Member Spotlight: Go High Level with Carrie Saunders Ep 209

    We bring on Carrie Saunders for a Member Spotlight and get a clear look at Go High Level through her white-label offer, Course Creator Suite, including what it does well for course creators and online business owners. We also talk honestly about platform support, pricing pressure, and what it really takes to move from tools like Kajabi, Wix, or WordPress. • how our Member Spotlight interviews work and why we feature members • what Go High Level is and who it helps • why Course Creator Suite adds curated training plus live Q&A and implementation support • when DIY setup makes sense and when done-for-you support saves time • pricing at $97/month plus usage-based email and messaging costs • how importing courses and contacts works when migrating from Kajabi • why the built-in CRM matters for tracking forms, bookings, purchases, tags, and lifetime value • a quick CRM demo showing contact records and pipeline workflows • upcoming Marketing with Meller events and how we handle calendar invites Learn more:  https://coursecreatorsuite.com or info@coursecreatorsuite.com Connect with Carrie Saunders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriesaunders/ Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    40 min
  5. Charge for Your Expertise: Knowing Which Wire to Cut - Ep 208

    APR 16

    Charge for Your Expertise: Knowing Which Wire to Cut - Ep 208

    Someone asks for your rate and suddenly your brain starts negotiating against you. I’ve been there, and I’m sharing the stories that changed how I price my work as an enthusiastically self-employed consultant, coach, and LinkedIn trainer. We start with the core truth behind value-based pricing: clients are not paying you to “cut the wire.” They’re paying you to know which wire to cut, and that comes from years of experience, pattern recognition, and results. I walk through how my LinkedIn coaching evolved from a $150 in-person session into a $750 VIP coaching package built for real implementation, including recorded sessions, a profile resource guide, and an accountability call.  I also talk about what it feels like to raise rates, how to present a clean offer ladder during discovery calls, and why a done-for-you service should cost more when it demands deep focus and intensive time. Then we get into the messy parts: the moment a prospect told me my training cost “more than our lawyers,” how that objection stuck with me, and how I’d handle it now. We also dig into client boundaries, scope creep, and the “pain in the” clients who drain your energy.  Finally, we talk about AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, why their advice can be outdated, and why expert access is becoming the real premium in coaching and consulting. If you want more confidence in your pricing strategy and a healthier relationship with your time, press play. Subscribe, share this with a self-employed friend who’s undercharging, or message me on LinkedIn with the biggest pricing challenge you’re facing right now. Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    19 min
  6. No More Free For Free & Q1 Updates - Ep 207

    APR 6

    No More Free For Free & Q1 Updates - Ep 207

    In this episode, I share what changes when we stop doing free work that doesn’t lead anywhere and start building offers that respect our time and our audience’s goals. I break down how “No More Free For Free” reshapes speaking, webinars, memberships, and the way to plan paid events. Other topics include: • why we should stop apologizing for gaps and just jump back in • the “No More Free For Free” rule and what it means in practice • how we ask “Do you have a speaker budget?” early and confidently • why you consider stop doing free webinars, office hours, and masterclasses • my shift toward serving solopreneurs, small business owners, and teams with real budgets • how Marketing With Meller delivers ongoing value through monthly live, virtual sessions • how my signature program, The Recipe For Social Selling on LinkedIn, rotates coaching topics so members never feel behind • my goal of 24 paid speaking engagements and the lessons I learned from saying yes to a “free” gig • becoming an international speaker after UpLift Live 2026 in the UK • the Small Business Marketing Summit and the speaker lineup built for practical action https://www.mellermarketing.com/sbms2026 Shout Outs include: Carol Dorsey (VA Services) https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroledorsey/Joshua Meller https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmeller/Giulia Santos dos Reis https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliasantosdosreis/ UpLift Live Planning Team: John Espirian https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnespirian/Jeremy Freeman https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessbrainbox/Gus Bhandal https://www.linkedin.com/in/mguruuk/ Small Business Marketing Summit speakers & topics: Pam Lippitt: From Hello to Success: Creating the Network that worked for youTom Wells: The numbers behind your best marketing decisionsElaine Belson: Why people overthink marketing and how to stopUmut Aslan: Building an ideal customer profile to move "from confusion to clarityLinda Brubaker: Ditch Your What and Sell Your WhyJudi Hays: Building a LinkedIn presence that attracts high fee clientsAnnette Richmond: Less stress, more fun, better videoNancie Steinberg: Getting media coverage without a PR agencyLori Jo Vest: Why certain AI-generated videos and copy fail to sellChristopher G. Johnson: The 10 minute meeting fixLori Vajda: How to lodge expertise in an audience's memoryLiz M. Lopez: Dominating your business success Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    22 min
  7. Member Spotlight: Team Training - Leadership Communication by Pam Lippitt - Ep 206

    MAR 17

    Member Spotlight: Team Training - Leadership Communication by Pam Lippitt - Ep 206

    MwM Member Spotlight: Pam Lippitt on Leadership Communication & Team Networking Training The host shares a new “no more free for free year” focus on prioritizing paid clients and members, then introduces a live Zoom “Member Spotlight” recorded January 27, 2026 for the Marketing with Meller (MwM) community and later podcast release. Featured MwM member Pam Lippitt of Pamela Lippet Communications, a speaker, podcaster, and trainer, explains her work empowering people to use their voice with concise, powerful workplace communication. Pam highlights her team training offering centered on leadership communication and consistent networking so companies present a unified message, describing how she positions training around retention, rehiring costs, and helping anyone in a meeting demonstrate leadership. Audience questions touch on entrepreneurs’ communication (sell success, not failures), AI’s role as a starting tool, and using AI to refine tone. Pam shares how to connect with her and notes her podcast Communication is an Art and a 500-download milestone. 00:00 No More Free Work 00:28 Member Spotlight Setup 02:14 Meet Pam Lippet 03:54 Team Training Focus 05:48 Leadership Training Need 07:32 Selling Training With Retention 10:46 Workload And Priorities 13:27 Trainer As Neutral Voice 17:14 When Companies Get Sold 18:34 Workplace Trust Shifts 19:20 Entrepreneur Communication Skills 19:47 Sell The Success 20:46 Riding Business Seasons 22:50 AI And Authentic Voice 26:07 Using AI To Rephrase 27:48 Old School Email Tactics 29:03 How To Book Pam 30:35 Podcast Milestone Chat 32:01 Wrap Up And Next Spotlights Connect with Pam to learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalippitt Email: pam@hillstreetgroup.com  Website: https://www.hillstreetgroup.com/workshopsandcoaching Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    34 min
  8. Aligning Your Personal Brand With Your Personal Image w Andrea Walker Leidy - Ep 205

    MAR 9

    Aligning Your Personal Brand With Your Personal Image w Andrea Walker Leidy - Ep 205

    Listen to this playback of an interview with Andrea Walker Leidy about Aligning Your Personal Brand with Your Personal Image. As you're listening, you may notice some "quality" issues with my microphone, Restream, and audio-delay issues that caused occasional talking-over.  I decided to publish on the podcast anyway, to be transparent and because Andrea’s advice is so valuable!  Andrea Walker-Leidy is a Michigan-based PR and communications professional and founder of Walker Publicity, who helps people and organizations identify and share their stories through PR, social media, and branding. She has expanded into personal branding and style through her project Look On Purpose after clients repeatedly asked what to wear.  We discuss aligning personal image with brand by doing self-discovery, focusing on how you want people to feel, removing “should” from getting dressed, embracing consistent signature choices, and auditing/purging closets based on what you actually wear, including donating or swapping items. Andrea shares how she handles on-camera wardrobe guidance, invites LinkedIn connections, and outlines her services. 00:00 Episode Setup and Audio Notes 01:37 Meet Andrea Walker Leidy 05:11 Why Personal Image Matters 08:19 Ditch the Should Wear Rules 13:24 Closet Audit and Purge Plan 15:32 Thrifting and Clothing Swap Idea 16:51 Swap Your Closet Finds 17:54 Thrifting Saves Money 18:56 Style Questions Sparked 20:31 Closet Consult Process 21:27 Membership Best Friend 22:51 Tech Glitches and Q&A 25:49 PR Styling on Camera 28:18 Connect on LinkedIn 30:19 Services and Offerings 31:53 Final Brand Takeaways Connect with Andrea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walkerpr/ Support the show ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller  (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

    35 min
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Enthusiastically Self-Employed is designed for you if you’re self-employed as a coach, consultant, speaker, author, solopreneur, or small business owner. Listen in for business, marketing, and LinkedIn tips, sprinkled in with stories along the way.   Listen to Enthusiastically Self-Employed for education and insights to help you to be successful and support the love you have of your business, while also supporting your bottom line. That means growing your revenue, reducing your expenses, and optimizing your processes.Download a FREE LinkedIn Checklist:www.mellermarketing.com/checklists

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