DOWNSTAGE MEDIA BLOG
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY, MESSAGING, AND EMAIL MARKETING TIPS
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.

How to Get More Traffic to Your Squarespace Site (Without the Guesswork)
You built a beautiful Squarespace website. The messaging is solid, the visuals are on point—but the traffic? Crickets. If you’re wondering why no one’s finding your site (and what to do about it), this post breaks it down. Learn why long-form content still matters, how blogging can be your website’s best traffic engine, and what a smart strategy really looks like—especially for Squarespace users who’ve done the brand work but still feel invisible.

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.

Start Prepping for 2025: How to Build a Marketing Strategy That Works for You All Year
Get your business ready for 2025! In this post, you’ll learn a streamlined, five-step plan designed for small teams. From choosing your top focus to setting up automations and tracking the right metrics, each step is crafted to help you make an impact with clarity and confidence. Let’s start the new year with a marketing strategy that’s both manageable and powerful.

Is Tilt Publishing Right for Your Book? Here’s What You Need to Know.
Tilt Publishing isn’t just about getting your book on the shelves—it’s about giving authors the control, reader data, and engagement they deserve. As the publisher of The Content Entrepreneur and Simple Social Media, I chose Tilt for the same reasons you might: meaningful connections, long-term growth, and turning a book into a true brand-building tool. Discover how Tilt’s unique approach can transform your book from launch day to lasting impact.

StoryBrand for Content Marketing: Using Frameworks to Improve Blog Posts, Social Media Posts, and Email Campaigns
Discover how the StoryBrand framework can transform your content marketing strategy from chaotic to cohesive. By applying StoryBrand across your emails, social media, and website, you’ll create messaging that resonates with your audience, increases engagement, and drives real results. Learn why this proven approach can make your marketing easier and more effective—and how Annie Figenshu can guide you every step of the way.