Field Notes:
The DGB Blog!
Archive
- Content design
- Marketing Ecosystems
- Pinterest Marketing
- brand strategy
- branding
- business development
- community building
- content creation
- content management
- content marketing
- content strategy
- creative marketing
- ethical marketing
- marketing
- marketing management
- media management
- nature based business
- sustainable business
How to Build a Content Calendar That Actually Works For You
Tired of reactive marketing and content chaos? This blog walks you through how to build a content calendar that works for you—your energy, your goals, and your brand values. Learn how to plan content sustainably using themes, content pillars, and a CMS like Notion. Designed for small business owners and creatives who want to show up consistently without burnout.
Why We Need to Stop Treating Small Business Like a Corporate Machine
The relentless pursuit of growth has led to widespread burnout and instability, leaving many small businesses questioning their survival. But we don’t have to play by the rules of a broken system. This blog explores why hustle culture and fast-growth models fail us—and how small businesses can thrive through sustainability, collaboration, and a redefinition of success. Discover actionable steps to build a business that lasts, prioritizing relationships, reciprocity, and long-term resilience over short-term wins.
What to Post at Every Stage of the Customer Journey: Ethical Content Ideas for Trust-Driven Marketing
Traditional marketing funnels often feel pushy and transactional—but there’s a better way. In this guide, we break down how to create an ethical, sustainable marketing journey that moves your audience through each stage naturally and without manipulation. Learn what types of content to create for every stage—from awareness and engagement to conversions and customer retention—so you can grow your business in a way that feels aligned, impactful, and trust-driven. Whether you want to increase engagement, drive conversions, or grow your email list, this guide will help you build long-term relationships, not just sales.
March Field Guide: Turning Work into a Gift, Not a Task
We’ve been conditioned to believe that work is something we have to do, even if it leaves us drained. But what if work could feel fulfilling, regenerative, and in alignment with your values? In this guide, we explore how to shift from exhaustion to purpose by embracing nature-inspired work cycles, questioning outdated productivity norms, and integrating more intention into daily tasks. Learn how to redefine success, break free from hustle culture, and implement practical rituals to make your work feel like a meaningful contribution rather than a burden.
Brand Strategy: More Than Just Aesthetic—It’s the Heart of Your Business
In this blog post, we explore the transformative power of a robust brand strategy. Learn how to dive deep into your brand’s mission, values, and emotional core to create an identity that not only looks great but truly connects with your audience. We break down the process—from introspective discovery and messaging refinement to visual execution—while addressing common challenges like inconsistent messaging and diluted targeting. Whether you’re stuck in endless brand refreshes or struggling to articulate your unique value, discover how a clear, strategic foundation can turn your brand into a timeless asset that drives sustainable growth.
Is It Influence or Manipulation? How to Be a Smarter Consumer
In the digital age, influencers and social media gurus hold immense power—but at what cost? This blog dives into the hidden dangers of influencer culture, wellness industry manipulation, and how big brands profit from our trust. Drawing from my personal experience in MLMs and working with high-profile wellness brands, I reveal how influencer marketing fuels misinformation, unethical business practices, and social media obsession. Learn how to fact-check online claims, hold influencers accountable, and become a more conscious consumer in a world driven by curated illusions.
Empowering vs. Gatekeeping: Why I Believe in Teaching My Clients, Not Trapping Them
In a world where knowledge is often hoarded and dependency is a business strategy, it’s time to rethink how we serve our clients. This article explores the difference between empowerment and gatekeeping, offering real-world examples of service providers who create false reliance vs. those who equip clients with tools to thrive on their own. We dive into ethical business practices, the importance of transparent education, and actionable steps to build a model that fosters autonomy, collaboration, and long-term success. Whether you’re a designer, coach, strategist, or consultant, learn how shifting to an empowerment-based model benefits both you and your clients.
February Field Guide: Nature Always Finds a Way, And So Can We
In the February edition of our Field Guide, we reflect on the theme "Nature Finds a Way," exploring how the resilience of the natural world offers guidance for navigating challenging times. By observing early bloomers like snowdrops and hellebores and the resourceful nuthatch, we uncover lessons in endurance, adaptation, and creativity. This guide also includes practical garden tips for the month—sowing cold-weather seeds, connecting with your local ecosystem, and setting intentions for your creative and business growth. Step into the season with renewed hope and inspiration.
Non-Binary Thinking: A Guide to Creative Liberation In Your Small Business
This is a story about freedom, creativity, and breaking the rules. Discover how non-binary thinking helped me align my business with my true self—and how it can help you do the same.
These revisions aim to connect emotionally with readers, offering an intimate and inviting tone to draw them in.
Reclaim Connection: How Analog Marketing Creates Deeper, More Human Experiences
In today’s fast-paced digital world, marketing often feels like an endless cycle of chasing trends and algorithms. But what if we slowed down and returned to more human, meaningful ways of connecting? This blog explores how analog marketing—through tactile experiences, handwritten notes, pop-up events, and sensory-driven campaigns—can create lasting emotional connections with customers. By engaging multiple senses and fostering genuine relationships, analog marketing offers small businesses and creatives a sustainable way to build community and make a lasting impact.
Reclaim Your Business from the Attention Economy: Nature-Inspired Growth for Creatives
This blog explores how the dopamine-fueled attention economy is quietly burning out small business owners and creatives. Learn how to break free from social media dependency, recognize signs of digital burnout, and shift to nature-inspired business practices for sustainable growth, creativity, and well-being.
Working Like Nature: Transform Your Work with Sustainable and Regenerative Practices
In this blog, we explore the transformative idea of working like—and for—nature. By aligning with nature’s principles, we can create regenerative systems that nurture creativity, balance, and sustainability. Learn how disconnection from natural rhythms has led to burnout, ecological harm, and disconnection, and why now is the time to reclaim our relationship with nature. From Indigenous wisdom to circular economies, discover practical ways to build a work culture that thrives on collaboration, rest, and reciprocity. Whether you’re a small business owner, creative, or environmental advocate, this article offers actionable insights to align your personal and professional life with the natural world.
Do You Really Need Social Media to Succeed? Re-thinking Marketing for Small Businesses
Social media marketing is often touted as a must for small business success, but is it truly essential? In this blog, we dive into the common frustrations of social media for solopreneurs and small business owners, discussing why it might not be the right choice for everyone. Explore how to uncover your unique marketing style by aligning with your strengths, understanding your audience, and staying true to your values. Discover how alternative, sustainable marketing approaches can drive meaningful results and help you connect authentically with your audience.
The Future of Marketing Is Human: Creative Predictions for the New Year
Explore 2025's creative marketing and design predictions focused on human connection, ethical practices, and sustainability. As businesses pivot away from burnout and generic AI-driven trends, discover how custom design, long-form content, and community collaboration will reshape small business marketing. Dive into actionable insights to prepare for a more intentional and impactful future.
Crafting a Sustainable Marketing Strategy: Shifting from Short-Form Content to Intentional, Long-Form Marketing
Learn how to craft a marketing strategy that reflects your values, avoids the noise of short-term trends, and prioritizes sustainability and authenticity. This blog offers actionable steps to help small business owners break free from cookie-cutter approaches and embrace a regenerative marketing mindset.
How to Honor the Holidays Without Centering Consumerism in Your Business
Learn how to navigate the holiday season as a conscious business owner without falling into the traps of overconsumption and materialism. Discover actionable strategies for fostering connection, sustainability, and authentic impact while aligning your holiday marketing with your values. Explore anti-capitalist marketing approaches, slow business practices, and ways to reduce holiday stress while building meaningful relationships with your community.
Transform Your Marketing Approach with Marketing Ecosystem Mapping
Discover how our Marketing Ecosystem Mapping service transformed a hypnotherapist’s business from overwhelmed to empowered. Learn how we created a sustainable strategy to align their goals, grow their audience, and reconnect with their mission.
Escape the Creative Constraints: Why Creative Freedom is Key to Impactful Marketing
Discover the transformative power of creative freedom in marketing with "Escape the Creative Constraints: Why Creative Freedom is Key to Impactful Marketing." This blog explores the significance of aligning your unique vision with authentic expression to foster deeper connections with your audience. Learn how breaking free from industry norms and societal pressures can not only enhance your marketing strategy but also cultivate a more fulfilling and impactful creative journey.
Sharing Your Work as a Creative: How to Confidently Showcase Your Unique Gifts
This blog explores the importance of understanding your creative style to effectively share your work. It emphasizes the value of authenticity, community contribution, and detachment from results, while offering practical tips for nurturing your creative expression.
Humanizing Your Brand: The Role of Personalization in Marketing
In a world where traditional marketing often exploits insecurities, personalization emerges as a key strategy that resonates with consumers. This blog explores the importance of personalization as a fundamental approach to marketing, emphasizing the human need for belonging, connection, and community. It highlights the emotional intelligence required to build authentic relationships with customers and underscores why the human touch in marketing cannot be replicated by AI. Readers will discover effective strategies for personalizing content, including understanding their audience, crafting tailored messages, and engaging in community-building efforts. Ultimately, this blog champions personalization as a means to create sustainable, long-lasting relationships that enhance brand loyalty and foster a sense of belonging among consumers.