Are you treating social media like another task on your to-do list? Do you treat it as a tool to genuinely connect with your audience? For many small business owners, the difference between feeling overwhelmed and seizing an opportunity comes down to one thing: mindset.

This week, I’m exploring what it means to adopt a creator mindset in your marketing. This shift isn’t about becoming an influencer or oversharing. It’s about weaving in stories, values, and moments of connection so your audience feels seen and understood. When you bring the personal into the professional, you create content that resonates….and ultimately, converts which is what we all want, right?

If you’ve ever struggled with making your content feel authentic (without oversharing), this conversation will give you the perspective and practical tips you need to humanize your brand and show up online with confidence.

Episode Highlights:

• Why the traditional “check the box” approach to social media doesn’t work
• What it means to adopt a creator mindset (and why it’s not about being an influencer)
• How storytelling builds stronger audience connections than endless “how-to” content
• Why authenticity and relatability matter more than perfection in your content
• Why treating social media as a creative sandbox helps you experiment, play, and grow

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing.

Resources & Mentions:

• Download our Free Guide to Hooks (updated for 2025!)
• Book an Instagram Audit

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com

Ever feel like your Instagram content deserves way more views than it gets? The truth is, it might not be your content at all…it’s your hook(s). Without a scroll-stopping first impression, even your most valuable posts will get ignored.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re breaking down the three types of hooks —visual, verbal, and caption —and why they’re key to grabbing attention and keeping your audience engaged. We’ll talk about why vague hooks fall flat, how storytelling creates stronger connections, and what you can do to make your content irresistible in those first three seconds.

If you’ve been frustrated by Reels that flop or captions that no one clicks “…more” to read, this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with practical strategies (and plenty of examples) to turn your hooks into powerful tools for growth and connection.

Episode Highlights:

• What a hook is and why it’s the most important part of your content
• The three types of hooks: visual, verbal, and caption—and how to use them effectively
• Why generic, vague hooks don’t stop the scroll (and what to do instead)
• How storytelling hooks build connection and keep people watching
• Real examples of strong vs. weak hooks you can apply today
• Why captions matter for engagement signals (like “…more” clicks)

Resources & Mentions:

• Download our Free Hook Guide
• Shannon McKinstrie on IG
• Emily Schwalbach on IG
• Book an Instagram Audit

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more creators like you!

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com

Scrambling to pull together holiday promotions at the last minute? Let’s fix that.

Marketing during this time of year can feel incredibly overwhelming, but with the right plan in place, it can also be your most profitable season.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re walking you through a practical approach to small business marketing strategy for the final 90 days of the year. From tying your revenue goals directly to your marketing goals to breaking down a tactical plan that balances visibility, conversions, and client nurturing, you’ll learn how to simplify your efforts while still hitting big results.

We’re also discussing how service providers can capitalize on this season to attract clients looking ahead to 2026. With insights on holiday promotions, email marketing, social media content pillars, and key metrics to track, you’ll walk away with the tools to finish the year strong and enter the new year with clarity and momentum.

Episode Highlights:

• Why Q4 planning looks different from other quarters—and how holiday noise impacts your strategy
• How to tie your marketing goals directly to your business revenue goals
• The most important metrics to track (open rates, click-throughs, conversions) and how to pivot when something isn’t working
• How to leverage Q4 as a service provider (not just retail!) to attract clients looking ahead to 2026

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more business owners like you!

Resources & Mentions:

• Q4 Marketing Workshop (Tuesday, 9/23 in Annapolis, MD!)
• Book a 1:1 Strategy Session
• Schedule a discovery call

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more creators like you!

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com

What really happens when you commit to 30 days of Reels?

I tested it for myself, and while I didn’t hit all 30, I still walked away with higher reach, more engagement, and some surprising takeaways about what actually works on Instagram.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, I’m talking about my 30-day Reels experiment – from what I posted, what the analytics showed, and the lessons I’ll carry into my strategy moving forward. From the boost in non-follower reach to the power of repurposing and reposting, I’m sharing the wins, the struggles, and the real numbers you can learn from.

If you’ve ever wondered whether posting daily is worth it, or if you’ve struggled to balance consistency with strategy, you’ll walk away with practical insights to help you set realistic benchmarks and create content that fits your business (and your bandwidth).

Episode Highlights:

• The results of Heidi’s 30-day Reels challenge (and where she fell short)

• How Instagram’s recap features and insights can help shape your content strategy

• Why consistency matters more than going viral—and how to set your own benchmarks

• The role batching, repurposing, and reposting play in staying consistent

• Lessons on balancing strategy with sustainability in your marketing

• Why clarity in your message matters more than how often you post
  
  
  

Resources & Mentions:

• 30 Days of Reels Lead Magnet

• Q4 Marketing Masterclass Waitlist

• Book a 1:1 Strategy Session
  
  
  

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more creators like you!

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com

If your answer to “Who’s your audience?” is something broad like “women” or “business owners,” it’s time to dig deeper. If you’re marketing to everyone generally, you’re really marketing to no one.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re breaking down the questions you need to ask yourself to get clear on who you really serve; and how that clarity can transform your content, messaging, and offers.

Clarity isn’t limiting…it’s empowering. The more specific you are about your audience, the easier it is to attract the right clients and create content that resonates. This episode is part guided exercise, part tough love, and 100% designed to help you stop throwing spaghetti at the wall and start marketing with purpose.

Episode Highlights:

• Why broad categories don’t cut it (and what to do instead)

• The essential demographics you need to define your audience

• How to uncover your audience’s mindset, values, and motivations

• The importance of pain points, desires, and goals in shaping your message

• How to identify buying behaviors and habits that drive your strategy

• Why knowing your differentiator helps you stand out in a crowded market

Resources & Mentions:

• Link In Bio (Rachel Karten) Substack
• Schedule a 90 Minute Strategy Session
• Small Business Social Media Masterclass – Next session starts October

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more creators like you!

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com

What’s really holding you back from showing up online? For most business owners, it isn’t lack of strategy—it’s mindset.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re getting real about the fear of rejection, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to “look perfect” that keeps so many of us from sharing our stories.

We’re talking about how authenticity and resilience go hand-in-hand, and why letting go of perfection is the key to connection. If you’ve ever hesitated to hit “post,” this episode will give you both encouragement and practical strategies to get out of your head and into action.

Episode Highlights:

• Why authenticity builds trust—and why that matters more than polished perfection

• How to overcome fear of rejection, trolls, and overthinking

• Simple practices to boost resilience and confidence online

• Why remembering your why makes it easier to show up consistently

• Practical tips to create and post content—even when self-doubt creeps in

Resources & Mentions:

• Leading Lady Business Hub
• Schedule a call to chat about my Strategy Deep Dive.
• Free Download: Guide to Instagram Hooks

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more creators like you!

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com

Instagram just dropped a wave of new updates, and if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed (or wondering which ones are actually worth your time), this episode is for you.

From three-minute Reels to reposting, new editing tools, location tracking (yikes), and DM upgrades, you’ll walk away knowing exactly which features to test, which to skip, and how to use them strategically without burning out.

As always, we’re breaking down what’s new, how it impacts your reach and engagement, and sharing our personal take on where these updates really fit into a smart business marketing plan.

Episode Highlights:

• The biggest changes Instagram just rolled out (and what they mean for creators & businesses)

• Why longer Reels can be a game changer for tutorials, transformations, and storytelling

• How to use the Repost feature to boost credibility and collaborate authentically

• The pros and cons of Instagram’s new location sharing—and why Heidi turned it off

• A quick-start checklist for testing new features without derailing your content strategy

• DM upgrades you should be using right now to stay connected with leads and clients

Resources & Mentions:

• Episode 71: Proven Marketing Strategies to Attract More Local Customers

• Connect on Instagram

• Schedule a Profile Audit

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more creators like you!

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com

Running a local business means your marketing needs to do more than just “look good” online. It has to bring real people through the door.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re sharing strategies that actually work for small, local businesses that want to stand out in their communities, connect with the right audience, and turn online followers into loyal, in-person customers.

Whether you’re a boutique owner, a coffee shop, a service-based business, or a nonprofit, you’ll learn how to make your marketing hyper-local, memorable, and measurable. These are the same tactics we use with clients to help them get found, get seen, and get chosen…without wasting time on strategies that don’t move the needle.

Episode Highlights:

• How to boost visibility with location tags, hyper-local hashtags, and UGC

• The power of local partnerships, events, and community involvement

• Simple profile tweaks that improve local SEO and conversions

• Low-budget ad strategies that reach the right people nearby

• Offline marketing ideas that actually get noticed (and remembered)

• How to measure if your local marketing is delivering results

Resources & Mentions:

• Episode 66: Why Going Viral isn’t a Strategy
• Schedule a Profile Audit

Subscribe, leave a review, and share Stop the Scroll with a friend or fellow business owner who needs a little more confidence and a lot less overwhelm in their marketing. Your reviews help us reach more creators like you!

Drop a question or a review! We love getting feedback from our listeners!

Connect with me:

Website - https://www.heidijschmidt.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeidiSchmidtCreative/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/legallyheidi/

Email - Heidi@heidijschmidt.com