When you don’t have a lead magnet / freebie—or you’re not loving the one you’ve got—it’s easy to put it on the back burner.

What if you spend all that time creating something… and it doesn’t lead to discovery calls? Or worse—it just collects digital dust?

In this episode, I’m sharing the 5 factors that make a lead magnet worth your time to create and share—whether you’re building your first one or finally ready to replace what’s not working.

🎯 You’ll Discover:

• Why “just growing your list” is the wrong goal—and what to focus on instead
• My 5-part "Smart Freebie Formula" that helps turn downloads into conversations
• What changed when I fixed one thing and saw conversions jump from 7% to 60%
• How to strike a balance between helpful and hireable (so you don’t give away too much)

🎧 Keep Going With These Related Episodes:

• More on the Referral Message Creator™ > Episode 18: Want Better Referrals? Here’s How to Get Great Intros, Fast
• More on my Brand CHIPS™ Messaging Formula > Episode 9: Elevator Pitches That Get Clients: Clarify Your Message With My Brand CHIPS™ Formula

👋 Your Free Invitation:

If you're ready to create a lead magnet that actually sparks client conversations and builds your know, like, and trust with others, I’d love to help.

🎯 Set a free kickoff call with me to explore a Magic Strategy Day → greateststorycreative.com/magic

Together, we’ll create a smart freebie that aligns with your offers, builds trust, and sparks real results—not just downloads.

#leadmagnetstrategy #clientattraction #coachingbusiness #consultingbusiness #messagingclarity #smartfreebie #establishyourself #emailmarketingtips #brandstrategy

When budgets tighten and clients seem to disappear, it’s easy to believe the answer is more marketing. More posting. More pushing. More panic!

But in this episode, I’m pulling you out of the tactic tornado.

You’ll learn how to stop scrambling for visibility—and start confidently marketing yourself with a message and offer that feel grounded, clear, and totally aligned with what your best-fit clients need right now.

🎯 You’ll Discover:

• Why “more marketing” without clarity can actually hurt your business
• How to show up as essential—even when the economy feels uncertain
• The EST Framework I teach my clients to get booked up, not burned out
• The difference between being a salad bar and a chef (yep—it matters)

🎧 Keep Going With These Related Episodes on Client Attraction + Clarity:

• Episode 6 | Marketing Without Social Media: 3 Alternate Ways I Attract Premium Clients (Deeper Dive into The Establish Yourself® Framework)
• Episode 7 | The Clever Way to Find Your Niche Without Rebranding
• Episode 12 | Signature Offers Made Simple: 3 Steps to Package Your Expertise & Raise Your Rates

👋 Your Free Invitation:

If you're done spinning your wheels and ready to clearly articulate what you do, who it’s for, and why it matters—let’s talk.

🎯 Start doing marketing that matters by setting a free consultation with me to explore Package Your Process with the Expert soon!

→ greateststorycreative.com/consult

Together, we’ll clarify your elevator pitch, shape a signature offer, and equip you with the tools to start selling it—no funnels, just focus.

#marketingclarity #sloweconomy #consultingbusiness #coachingbusiness #messagingstrategy #brandvoice #signatureoffer #clientattraction #establishyourself #confidenceinbusiness

I've made a LOT of mistakes (and survived!) Discover how by grabbing a free chapter of my bestselling book: https://www.greateststorycreative.com/read

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I used to think that being successful and having confidence in business meant getting everything right. But after 11 years as an entrepreneur, I’ve learned something far more freeing: you can make BIG, messy, even wildly embarrassing mistakes—and still thrive.

In this episode, I’m opening up about some of the hardest moments behind the scenes of my six-figure business. From visibility blunders to failed launches and too-many-niches syndrome, I’m sharing the real missteps that helped me grow, not in spite of them—but because of them.

If you’ve been quietly beating yourself up for not having it all figured out, I hope this feels like a permission slip.

Part 4 of the "Greatness, Not Perfection" Series

🎯 You’ll Discover:

• What I got totally wrong in the early years (and what I’d do differently)
• A surprisingly costly visibility mistake I made for 3+ years
• How a failed offer turned into one of my best-selling programs
• Why perfection isn’t the goal—resilience is

🎧 Tune into all 4 episodes of the "Greatness, Not Perfection" Series

1. Episode 26 - Stuck in the Perfection Trap? This New Mindset Keeps You Moving Forward
2. Episode 27 - Unexpected Ways I Use AI to Stop Overthinking, Hold Boundaries, and Play Bigger
3. Episode 28 - My Secret to Marketing Without Losing My Mind: Consistency Containers
4. Episode 29 (this episode) - These Embarrassing Mistakes Made My Business More Successful

Plus this related episode: Episode 21 - What Happened After I Picked the “Wrong” Marketing Strategy

👋 Your Free Next Step:

• Want to feel better about your business missteps—and start creating a brand that grows with you?
• 📕 Get the first 50 pages of my book "Establish Yourself" for FREE, and start designing a business that feels like home: ✨ https://www.greateststorycreative.com/read

✨ Free Business Fulfillment Live Event with me:

• Find encouragement and fresh ideas to enjoy your business more by joining me and Quinn Tempest of Create Your Purpose Collective® for a relaxed, valuable discussion on "Bringing Fun & Fulfillment Back to Your Business!" on Thursday, July 24 @ 1pm EST / 10am PST via Zoom
• Free RSVP here: https://quinntempest.com/annie-quinn-roundtable/

#businessgrowth #greatnessnotperfection #brandingclarity #coachinglife #sixfigurebusiness #confidenceinbusiness #establishyourself

How to Market Yourself Consistently Without Burnout 🔄 ✨ Check out My Summer Read-Along (https://www.greateststorycreative.com/boost)

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So here’s the truth: Consistency is my least natural strength. And yet… I’ve built a business that shows up, speaks clearly, and draws in my dream clients regularly.

How? Not through grit—but by designing repeatable marketing systems I actually want to use.

In this episode, I’m revealing the exact strategy that’s helped me—and many of my clients—market consistently without the burnout. If posting on social media feels like shouting into the void, this one's for you.

Part 3 of the "Greatness, Not Perfection Series"

🎯 You’ll Discover:

• What a “consistency container” is (and why it’s your secret to sustainable, ongoing marketing)
• The #1 mindset shift that helped me stop ghosting my audience
• Real-life examples of what consistent marketing actually looks like
• The hidden Disney metaphor that will totally reframe your marketing strategy 🏰

🎧 Keep Going With These Related Episodes About Consistency Containers:

• 6. Marketing Without Social Media: 3 Alternate Ways I Attract Premium Clients
• 21. What Happened After I Picked the "Wrong" Marketing Strategy

🎧 Tune into the full "Greatness, Not Perfection" Series

1. Episode 26 - Stuck in the Perfection Trap? This New Mindset Keeps You Moving Forward
2. Episode 27 - Unexpected Ways I Use AI to Stop Overthinking, Hold Boundaries, and Play Bigger
3. Episode 28 (This Episode) - My Secret to Marketing Without Losing My Mind: Consistency Containers
4. Episode 29 - These Embarrassing Mistakes Made My Business More Successful

👋 Your Invitation:

• Ready to stop stressing marketing content, create your consistency container, and take your business to new levels of fun, possibility, and profit?
• 📕 Join us for the Business Boost Read-Along with the Author this summer! We’ll walk through my book Establish Yourself together and build sustainable marketing systems that fit you. Starts July 9 – Just $19 to join → https://www.greateststorycreative.com/boost

#marketingstrategy #consistency #visibilitywithoutburnout #coachlife #consultingbusiness #sustainablemarketing #brandingclarity #establishyourself

🎙️ Featured Clients Mentioned:

• Jami Yazdani (Yazdani Consulting & Facilitation) – LinkedIn Lives on Project Management for Nonprofit Orgs and Companies
• Valerie Ehrlich (Mission Bloom) – Substack on AI & Leadership for Nonprofit Leaders and Consultants
• Wendy Gates Corbett – “The Spark” Monthly Newsletter on Belonging

Their consistency containers are lighting up inboxes and LinkedIn—go check them out!

Make this your summer of action! 📕 Check out book club here: 👉 https://www.greateststorycreative.com/boost

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I used to obsess over every client email, second-guess every post, and spend way too long trying to say things “just right.” But recently, I’ve discovered a surprisingly effective tool to help me break that perfectionist cycle: AI.

If you’ve ever felt drained by decisions, overthinking client communication, or struggling to post consistently—this episode is for you.

I’m sharing 5 unexpected ways I use tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to save time, protect my energy, and do more of the work that matters (without losing my voice or values).

Part 2 of the “Greatness, Not Perfection” series

🎯 You’ll Discover:

• How I use the “Spaghetti Thoughts” method to clarify messy ideas fast
• The Boundary Script technique that helps me write kind, firm emails (without spiraling)
• How to fix admin mistakes and content hiccups without wasting mental energy
• A 5-minute system for turning one podcast into multiple marketing pieces
• The Bold Pitch system that helps me ask for more of what I want—with confidence

🎧 Tune into the full "Greatness, Not Perfection" Series

1. Episode 26 - Stuck in the Perfection Trap? This New Mindset Keeps You Moving Forward
2. Episode 27 (This episode) - Unexpected Ways I Use AI to Stop Overthinking, Hold Boundaries, and Play Bigger
3. Episode 28 - My Secret to Marketing Without Losing My Mind: Consistency Containers
4. Episode 29 - These Embarrassing Mistakes Made My Business More Successful

👋 Your Invitation:

• Come take action and simplify your business with me this summer! 📕 Business Boost Read Along with the Author runs July 9 – August 13 and includes a free copy of Establish Yourself + weekly coaching to take aligned action. 👉 https://www.greateststorycreative.com/boost

#aiinbusiness #perfectionismhelp #boundariesforcoaches #clarity #coachlife #smoothsystems #consultingbusiness #establishyourself #greatnessnotperfection

Clarity, confidence, and a business book! 📕 Check out my Summer Read-Along here: 👉 https://www.greateststorycreative.com/boost

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Like building the perfect house, for years, I believed that building the perfect brand was the key to business success. But the longer I stayed in business, the more I realized that kind of perfection isn’t the goal—it’s really a trap.

If you've ever felt stuck in motion, tweaking endlessly, or waiting for the “right time” to take action—this episode is for you.

I’m sharing one of the most powerful mindset shifts I’ve made in my business (inspired by a surprising animal metaphor 🦈). It’s helped me break out of the overthinking loop and grow a business that’s not only profitable—but alive and well.

Part 1 of the new 4-part "Greatness, Not Perfection" series

🎯 You’ll Discover:

• Why chasing the “perfect brand” can quietly stall your growth
• The powerful mindset shift that helped me stay in business for over a decade
• What I learned from Disney about striving for greatness—not perfection
• A metaphor you’ll never forget that will change how you see your business
• A simple daily question to stay in motion and out of the perfectionism trap

✨ Keep Going With This Related Episode:

• Episode 2 - What I Learned from Working for Disney, including the origin of "Strive for Greatness, Not Perfection"

🎧 Tune into the full "Greatness, Not Perfection" Series

1. Episode 26 (this episode) - Stuck in the Perfection Trap? This New Mindset Keeps You Moving Forward
2. Episode 27 - Unexpected Ways I Use AI to Stop Overthinking, Hold Boundaries, and Play Bigger
3. Episode 28 - My Secret to Marketing Without Losing My Mind: Consistency Containers
4. Episode 29 - These Embarrassing Mistakes Made My Business More Successful

👋 Your Invitation:

• If this episode resonated, come swim with us this summer: 📕 Business Boost Read Along with the Author is back July 9 – August 13! Sign up now to read Establish Yourself together and turn inspiration into aligned action: https://www.greateststorycreative.com/boost

#businessmindset #perfectionism #clarity #coachlife #consultingbusiness #sharkmindset #purposefulgrowth #establishyourself #brandingstrategy

🎙️ Featured Clients Mentioned:

• Kris Liebau – "Leading Beyond the Spreadsheet"
• Kimberly Benoit – "We’ve All Done It"
• Marcey Rader – "Health-Powered Productivity"

Give their shows a listen—they’re all feeding their business sharks beautifully and leading with purpose!

Dread marketing because you're always having to restart your efforts? I used to feel that way too, until I figured out a simple business system I call “chain smoking.” (Yes, really.)

Inspired by author and artist, Austin Kleon, I’ve turned this concept into one of my most powerful business strategies. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes to show you 5 real ways I use “chain smoking” to build momentum, save time, and make my marketing, offers, and client delivery way easier - so you can get inspired and start leveraging it, too!

• How one small workshop turned into a four-year visibility machine
• The exact moment I realized I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel every time
• The client delivery tweak that helped one of my clients boost her revenue by 25%
• A book club idea that unexpectedly sold out my group program
• 5 real ways I “chain smoke” to connect the dots between marketing, delivery, and repeat business

I’ll also walk you through how you can start applying this strategy right now—no new tools or fancy tech required!

🎧 Dive Deeper in This Related Episode:

• Episode 14: "The "One Client" Value Ladder: A Smarter Way to Simplify Marketing"

📕 Save Your Spot for the Next Read-Along!

• Join the Free waitlist for "Business Boost Read-Along with the Author" at https://www.greateststorycreative.com/boost

📝 Create Your Free Referral Message Now:

• Get a 3-sentence personalized paragraph others can send to refer you with confidence (and see that chance to grab a bonus Professional Biography template!) 👉 https://www.greateststorycreative.com/message

✨ Level Up Your Business Systems With Ease (Magic Strategy Day):

• Want a fresh perspective and ways you could use chain smoking to make your marketing, offers, and client work more effective with less effort? See if a Magic Strategy Day with me is your perfect next step! 👉 https://www.greateststorycreative.com/magic

#SmoothSystems #ClientFlow #MarketingMomentum #CoachingBusiness #ConsultingTips #EstablishYourselfPodcast

💡 Also mentioned in this episode:

• "Steal Like an Artist" & "Show Your Work", both by Austin Kleon
• "Permission to Try" by Annie Franceschi (my first book)

📖 Want a more fun, sustainable business? Start with a FREE chapter of my book: https://www.greateststorycreative.com/read

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Coming from Corporate America and The Walt Disney Studios, I believed serious hustle was just how business worked. But once I stepped off the treadmill and chose to restructure my consulting practice around a sustainable business mindset of clarity, boundaries, and joy—everything changed.

In this episode, I share the reframe that's helped me triple my revenue while working fewer, more fulfilling hours, and why putting FUN FIRST isn’t just possible, it’s profitable.

You’ll hear practical shifts you can try this week to get out of overwork and back into the work you love!

🎯 You’ll Discover:

• How I designed my 3-day workweek with simple systems
• What a “No Meeting Monday” and my famous Batch December sabbatical really look like
• Why fun is a strategic filter—and how to use it to protect your energy
• How to create a repeatable content system that fits your strengths
• A mindset shift to help you confidently turn down misaligned clients

🎧 Keep Going With These Related Episodes:

• Episode 2: "Scaling a Consulting Practice: 3 Magic Strategies from My Disney Career"
• Episode 5: "3 Surprising Truths Behind How Real Coaches Grow Without Burnout"

📝 YOUR FREE RESOURCE:

• Start building a business that fits your life with a FREE first chapter of my bestselling book, Establish Yourself 👉 https://www.greateststorycreative.com/read

👋 Your Invitation:

• Pick one small or big way to add more fun to your week, and come tell me about it! Let’s connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anniefranceschi

#businessmindset #funfirst #worklifebalance #smoothsystems #boundaries #consultinglife #clarity #creativefreedom #coachingbusiness

💡 Also mentioned in this episode:

• “Self-inclusion” concept from Beth Ruffin, host of You Belong Here → bethruffin.com