DOWNSTAGE MEDIA BLOG
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY, MESSAGING, AND EMAIL MARKETING TIPS
How to Use a StoryBrand BrandScript to Clarify Your Message (Examples Included)
If your marketing feels scattered, you’re not alone. Most experts, founders, and speakers work way too hard for far too little traction because their message isn’t clear. This guide walks you through how to use a StoryBrand BrandScript to simplify your message, strengthen your content, and make marketing finally feel doable.
How to Name Your Offer So It Actually Sells
If you keep calling your work “consulting” or “just working with me,” you are shrinking the perceived value of your expertise. The right name turns a loose idea into a structured offer that clients understand, remember, and trust. This post shows you how to name your offers and processes so they feel valuable, future ready, and easier to sell. Keep reading if you want clients to say yes faster.
The Content Production Team: How to Turn Thought Leadership into a Scalable Marketing System
Every thought-driven brand faces the same challenge: the ideas come fast, but the content process lags behind. The Content Production Team helps you choreograph the content by defining who does what so your thought leadership becomes consistent, scalable, and effective.
Advantages of Working with a Mailchimp Pro Partner (even if you don’t have Mailchimp)
Email marketing has gotten more sophisticated. So even platforms like Mailchimp that may have seemed simple when you first signed up, require a little know how in order to get your money’s worth out of it. This blog post breaks down why working with a Mailchimp Pro Partner can help you get the results that you want so you can use email marketing to gain and retain clients.
Why Your Company Should Blog (And Why It Has Nothing To Do With SEO)
You keep putting off blogging because it feels like too much work, and as a result, prospects lose interest and clients drift away. In this post, you’ll learn how to blog in a way that saves time, builds trust, and makes follow-up effortless so you can keep the clients you have and attract the ones you want. If you don’t blog yet, you’ll learn exactly how to start. If you already blog, you’ll see how to make it even more effective and how to contribute to Orbit Media’s annual blogging survey. Read the full post to start.
Where Content Becomes a Business Plan: What to Expect at Content Entrepreneur Expo 2025
The Content Entrepreneur Expo isn’t just another industry event. It’s where creators, consultants, and founders go to sharpen their content strategy, meet real collaborators, and build businesses with staying power. Annie Figenshu—author of Simple Social Media and co-author of The Content Entrepreneur—will be there in Author Alley, ready to connect.
How to Grow an Email List That Actually Converts: A Practical Guide for Business Owners
Growing your email audience shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. If you’re not sure what to offer, where to promote it, or how to keep it fresh, you’re not alone. In this post, you’ll get a simple, doable plan to build a healthy list filled with the right people. The kind of list that keeps your audience engaged, your content working, and your business moving forward.
How to Build Brand Awareness with Engagement Posts
Engagement posts are a smart way to build brand awareness. Used well, they boost visibility, train the algorithm, and keep you top of mind.
What Happens When Local Marketers Sit Down Together (Over Steak Frites and Strategy)
A cozy table. Sharp minds. And one very good reason to keep talking marketing offline. Here’s what happened at the first Marketing Algonquin.
What Is a StoryBrand Certified Coach? (And Why the Title Changed)
Name changes are so 2025! StoryBrand Certified Guides are now StoryBrand Certified Coaches. If you're wondering why, what changed this post clears it all up.
Why Blogging Is the Most Important Part of Your SEO Strategy
Blogging isn’t just another marketing tactic; it’s the backbone of a successful SEO strategy. Learn why consistent, strategic blogging can make or break your search engine rankings and overall online visibility.
What Happened When History By Mail Hit the Shark Tank Stage
When History By Mail founder Ari Siegel stepped onto the Shark Tank stage, he had just 90 seconds to make his pitch count. Here's how we helped him craft a message that led to a $250,000 deal—and what you can learn from it about clarity, storytelling, and showing up with confidence when it matters most.
Downstage Media’s Client History By Mail Tests Its Brand Message on Shark Tank
When Ari Siegel, founder of History By Mail, landed a coveted spot on Shark Tank, he turned to Downstage Media for help crafting a pitch that would resonate with both the Sharks and millions of viewers. Here’s how we shaped the message, rehearsed every word, and got ready for a once-in-a-lifetime moment on national TV.
Follower Count Doesn’t Matter as Much as You Think
You don’t need a massive following to grow your business—you need a smart content strategy and the right systems. In this post, Annie Figenshu breaks down why email marketing still outperforms social media, how to build trust with a smaller audience, and what to focus on if you’re ready to stop chasing followers and start seeing results.
What's the Difference Between a Hashtag and a Handle
Understanding the difference between a hashtag and a handle can instantly strengthen your social media presence. If you’ve been guessing or mixing the two, you’re not alone — and it’s hurting your visibility. This post breaks down both tools in plain English and shows you how to use them strategically so your content is easier to find, easier to engage with, and easier to manage. Keep reading to make your next post clearer and far more effective.