How to Stand Out Online Without Getting Overwhelmed with Madelyn Furlong
In today’s fast-paced digital world, standing out online is more critical than ever for small business owners. However, with so many marketing channels, tools, and strategies available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and how to maintain consistency without burning out. If you’ve been feeling like you need to post constantly or create new content every single day just to stay relevant, you’re not alone.
I recently had a conversation with Madelyn Furlong, a marketing strategist and website designer, who shared some incredible tips on how to simplify online marketing and stand out without feeling like you need to be everywhere at once. Let’s dive into what we discussed and how you can apply these strategies to your own business.
1. Focus on What You Enjoy and Where Your Audience Hangs Out
One of the first things Madelyn suggests is deciding which marketing channels you want to focus on, based on where you enjoy showing up and where your audience spends their time. She highlights the importance of aligning your marketing strategy with what feels good to you.
For instance, if you enjoy creating Instagram Reels but find writing blog posts a chore, then focus on Instagram. Instagram allows you to post visually engaging content like Reels, Stories, and Carousels. If your audience is primarily active on LinkedIn, focus your efforts there. The key is to choose one or two platforms that align with your strengths and where your audience is already engaging.
2. Content Batching Is Your Best Friend
Madelyn is a big fan of content batching, and for good reason! Batch-creating your content allows you to stay consistent without having to scramble to create posts on the fly. Set aside specific days in the week to create your content in advance.
Here’s how you can structure it:
Start with big content pieces: If you have a podcast episode, webinar, or email to send, that can be your foundation.
Repurpose into smaller pieces: Break that long-form content down into social media posts, quotes, snippets, or even carousels.
Plan ahead: Use tools like a content calendar to outline what you’ll post and when.
This way, you’re not creating content every day, but instead, you have a well-thought-out plan for your marketing strategy. Repurposing content also saves you time and reminds your audience of the value you offer.
3. Repurposing Content to Maximize Impact
Madelyn’s philosophy on repurposing content is a game-changer. She advises that when you create content, you should think about how you can share it across multiple platforms. For example, if you create an email, you can repurpose it as a post on Instagram, a LinkedIn article, or even a YouTube video.
Why does this matter?
It saves time: You’re not reinventing the wheel for each platform.
It increases visibility: People need to see your message multiple times before they take action. The more places you share it, the more likely people are to notice.
It reinforces your message: Consistent messaging across platforms builds trust and recognition.
Madelyn emphasizes that it’s okay to reuse content. Most of your audience won’t see it everywhere, and those who do will only see your content from different angles, reinforcing your brand.
4. Balancing Enjoyment with Conversion
As small business owners, we often struggle with balancing content that we enjoy creating with content that converts. Madelyn shares that while it's essential to produce content that you love, it also has to speak to your audience’s pain points and desires.
If you enjoy posting on Stories but wonder if it’s actually converting leads into customers, Madelyn’s advice is simple: keep doing it. If talking on Stories feels natural and enjoyable for you, keep engaging with your audience there. You can always repurpose that content into something that might convert better, like a YouTube Short, a blog post, or even an email.
The takeaway here is that showing up consistently in a way that feels authentic to you will help you connect with the right people. And even if your content isn’t converting immediately, it’s still building relationships with your audience.
5. Batching Made Easy: Time-Saving Tips
As a busy entrepreneur, batching content is crucial to staying on top of your marketing efforts. Madelyn shares her approach to batching content and how to make it as efficient as possible:
Plan ahead: Spend time at the end of each month planning out the next month’s content. Having a content calendar or a simple outline for the month will keep you organized and ensure you’re always prepared.
Set time limits: Set a timer for batching. When you only have 40 minutes, you’ll work more efficiently. Madelyn suggests using tools like Canva for creating templates to speed up the design process.
Theme your days: Dedicate specific days of the week to certain tasks. For example, Tuesdays can be for writing emails, Fridays for social media posts. By assigning tasks to specific days, you’ll avoid feeling overwhelmed by doing everything all at once.
6. Embrace Templates, but Add Some Variety
If you’re worried about using the same templates repeatedly, Madelyn has a solution: add variety. She recommends creating a few different templates for each type of content, such as carousel posts, quote images, or memes. Keep them stored in an organized Canva folder so that you can switch up your designs while maintaining a cohesive brand aesthetic.
Don’t overthink it! If you’re just starting out or working with limited time, using templates will save you from the blank slate struggle, and you can always tweak them later for a fresh look. Plus, using templates ensures you stay consistent, which is key when it comes to building a recognizable brand.
7. Creating Content That Converts
Creating content that resonates with your audience is essential for standing out online. Madelyn stresses the importance of knowing your audience’s pain points, desires, and goals when crafting your content. She recommends asking yourself:
What challenges are my clients facing this month?
Are there any upcoming holidays or events that I can tie my content to?
What are my clients working towards, and how can I position my products or services to help them?
By aligning your content with your audience’s needs, you position yourself as a solution provider, making it easier for them to connect with what you offer.
8. Measure Your Success
Tracking your success is crucial to ensure your marketing efforts are paying off. Madelyn keeps things simple by tracking her email open rates, click-through rates, and social media analytics. She also advises using Instagram’s Best Practices tool to get insights into how to improve your engagement.
The key to tracking success is consistency and reflection. Regularly check in on your performance, see what’s working, and adjust your strategy if needed. Don’t be afraid to ask your audience what they want to see more of. Their feedback will help you improve and refine your marketing efforts.
Final Thoughts
Standing out online doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a clear plan, consistency, and a few time-saving strategies like content batching and repurposing, you can build a standout online presence without burning out. Remember, marketing is about building relationships with your audience and delivering value in a way that feels authentic to you. Focus on what you enjoy, be strategic, and the results will follow.
If you’re looking for more support with your marketing strategy or want to learn how to build a website that converts, check out Madelyn’s resources at Madelyn Victoria Co. She also offers a fantastic guide on leveraging your marketing efforts to attract your ideal clients.
Here’s to a successful year of standing out online without the overwhelm!
Connect with Madelyn Furlong:
If you want to stop the mindless social media scroll and stop worrying about what everyone else is posting and instead learn how to create a content strategy that converts, then sign up for Madelyn’s FREE training!
It starts on Monday, January 13–you won’t want to miss it! Click HERE to register!
Website: madelynvictoriaco.com
Freebie: 3 Simple Strategies to Become More Visible, Get More Clients, and Increase Your Profit madelynvictoriaco.com/visibility
Instagram: madelynvictoriaco
Connect with Chelsey Newmyer
Website: https://chelseynewmyer.com/
Instagram: @chelseyncoaching
