Welcome back to Tiny Talks!

If you’re new here: Welcome! Tiny Talks is a no-fluff, 45-minute blend of strategy + community for tiny business owners, creatives, neurodivergent folks, and anyone who’s doing marketing on their own terms.

Each Tiny Talks features one tactical talk (like SEO or website structure), one strategy or mindset shift (like time management or content planning) and real folks working in tiny businesses or nonprofits sharing what’s actually working for them.

In our first session, we talked about websites, services pages, and task initiation for brains that don’t always wanna cooperate. (Catch that recap here).

This time, we focused on content—how to create it without spiraling. Illustrator + educator Melquea Smith from PrettyKittyPaintings shared her approach to social media with an audience-first mindset.

Then I dove into why blogging is still an incredibly powerful tool, even in a world obsessed with 30-second videos and fast-scroll content.

Here’s what we covered, with lots of insight from folks who showed up, asked smart questions, and reminded all of us that strategy can be… fun!

📺 Watch the full replay here:
👉 Watch on YouTube

Or, read on for a recap of the event!

**Melquea Smith**

Children's Book Illustrator, PrettyKittyPaintings

Tiny Talk #1: Content Creation Collaboration!

Melquea opened with a big, relatable truth:

“I wear a lot of hats. I have to figure out SEO and content marketing and Facebook ads and this and that, and collaborating with awesome people such as Lark, and being able to just run a business—while also holding a full-time job.”

Her talk focused on creating content that’s rooted in values, not pressure—and building community in ways that actually fit your energy.

To help us ground our approach to social media, she walked us through a 3-part framework:

“We’re gonna keep this super simple. We’re gonna follow this little framework: I am a [blank], who [blank]. My goal is to [blank].”

The Framework in Action

Everyone filled in the blanks live, and the intros that came out of it were warm, specific, and refreshingly non-salesy.

Here was my take:

“I am a web designer who specializes in working with tiny businesses and nonprofits. A goal for my social media is to connect with tiny businesses and help websites feel easy—and maybe a little bit fun!”

Another:

“Hi, I write educational content, humor and children’s books. My social media goal is to encourage homeschooling and travel, especially among single moms.”

We also heard:

“I am a kidlit author. I write children’s books… and my goal for social media is to build and participate—to encourage and celebrate kidlit authors.”

And this one:

“Hi, I’m an autistic, fear-free dog groomer who wants to create a genuine and safe environment for people and dogs. My social media goals are to show off the dogs I groom and also talk about disability inclusivity and small businesses.”

Melquea offered her own example too:

“I’m a children’s book illustrator who shares snippets of my illustration work, and my goal is to celebrate all of my peers in publishing and education.”

Picking a Platform That Fits

Melquea broke down platform choice like this:

“Instagram is great for visuals, videos, and photos. Facebook is wonderful for connecting in Facebook groups of your target audiences and building community… Pinterest is great for being found through organic search—and you don’t need to keep up with comments.”

Then came the key takeaway:

“Most importantly, make sure you think about what platform is the easiest for you to post on. Because if you’re not on a platform that is easy and something that you actually like to post on, you won’t be able to stay on the platform.”

Right now, she’s focused on Instagram and Pinterest:

“I got lazy once my industry kind of fractured and splintered off. I just don’t have the energy to get back on another platform, so I decided… a lot of folks still follow me on Instagram, and that’s the best way for me to showcase my artwork.”

Q&A Highlights

Q: How often do you post?

“Sometimes I post multiple times a week. Sometimes I post once a week. I don’t actually post like I have a scheduled thing. I just kind of… as I do it.”

Q: What gets in the way of posting?

“For me, writing captions gets me stuck. So I pre-write my captions, or I use voice-to-text… Another way that I get stuck is actually music. So now when I hear something I like, I save those songs to use in the future.”

What to Post (Without Overthinking It)

Here are a few of Melquea’s favorite content prompts, plus some additions we talked through during the session:

Introduce yourself (again!)
Share your actual workspace—even if it’s a disaster
Highlight a new tool, app, or system you’re trying out
Recommend a peer or shout out someone you admire
Post your studio assistants (plants, pets, snack foods)
Answer a question you get in DMs or emails
Share a behind-the-scenes decision or pivot
Celebrate a win—no matter how tiny

Setting Boundaries Around What You Share

Melquea also talked about it’s totally okay for you to set limits around what you WON’T post on socials. Knowing what’s off-limits for her has been helpful in narrowing down what TO post. Here were her examples:

“I don’t want to post children’s faces—especially my nephews, because I may get disemboweled by my sister. I also avoid venting or negativity. The world already has a lot of that.”

And this reminder:

“You don’t have to share everything on social media. You can keep anything you want at any time private. It’s totally okay if your social media does not 100% match your online self.”

**Lark Frazier** (that’s me!)

Web Designer, Digital Educator & so much more!

Tiny Talk #2: Blogging’s Not Dead

Blogging is not dead. I will die on this hill.

In a world full of 30-second short-form videos, “link in bio” loops, and maybe-they’ll-see-it algorithms, blogging is still one of the only types of content that works quietly in the background—helping people find you, understand you, and trust you over time.

And unlike social content, your blog belongs to you. It’s part of your website, not your rented space on someone else’s platform. It can be evergreen. It can be weird. It can be strategic. It can even be kind of fun.

Why to Blog

Here’s why I still blog—and why I recommend it to almost every client I work with:

Increase “Website Density” (a term I made up, but it works): Blogging is the easiest way to grow your site without making your homepage a cluttered mess. You can add useful, well-linked pages that build your credibility with search engines.
You can use posts as super-targeted landing pages: If you work with multiple kinds of clients (coaches, nonprofits, artists), blog posts are an awesome way to talk to each group directly without overcomplicating your website structure. Think:
“Top Website Tips for Coaches”
“5 Mistakes I See on Nonprofit Homepages”
“How to Sell Art Online Without Melting Down”
You can get very specific with keywords: Your blog is where you can use those juicy long-tail search terms like “how to publish a children’s book” or “self care tips for therapists”
Amazing backlink-building opportunities: Blogs give people something to link to when they’re referencing you, quoting you, or sharing your advice. Bonus tip: team up with other bloggers and do some guest posting!!
Built-in content for your other marketing: Blog → newsletter → carousel post → video script → IG caption. One idea. Many uses.
Evergreen + algorithm-free: There is no algorithm punishing you for not blogging in a week. A post from 2021 could still be doing work for you today.
It builds trust: Long-form content lets you go deeper. People can see how you think, how you work, and what you value.
You can use it to freshen up your homepage: Feature a recent blog post right on the homepage. Make your site feel alive. And keep visitors clicking through.
It can actually be fun: When you write a post that hits the spot, it reminds you why you do what you do. It’s satisfying. It’s creative. It can help pull you out of a content slump. It helps you explore and remember why you do what you do, and the amazing stuff you have to offer!!

How to Blog (The Lark-Approved Way)

Let’s keep this simple. Here’s how I recommend writing blog posts that do their job:

📏 Length

700 words minimum. 1,750–2,250 words is generally considered to be the sweet spot.

You’re not writing a dissertation. But you are writing a page that helps someone with something. Make it useful. Make it thorough. Make it make sense.

🔗 Density

Link to your other content—blog posts, service pages, freebies, products. The more internal links, the stronger your Website Density. (Yes, I’m saying that phrase again.)

📣 Drive

Always have a Call to Action. Doesn’t have to be salesy. Could be:

Want help with this? Let’s chat.
Here’s my free checklist.
Join my membership.
DM me your favorite takeaway.

It can be part of your content or its own little “commercial break” in the middle or end.

🖼️ Pick Your Pics

Use original images whenever possible—even iPhone shots, process pics, or screenshots. A post with 5–8 visuals tends to perform best. Add a caption. Add alt text. Make it helpful and accessible.

🔍 Remember Your Keywords

Use your target keywords:

In your blog title
In the first paragraph of your content
In the URL slug (example: /coach-website-tips)
In your main image alt text (if applicable to the image)

🔗 Connect Your Channels

Have a YouTube video? Embed it.
Mentioned something on Instagram? Link to it.
Wrote a guide or resource? Offer it in the blog.

Your blog is a hub, and it should help make your job easier. Use it to connect all your content dots!

What to Blog

Love writing? Just write. Really. Write the weird, beautiful, nerdy post you’ve been thinking about and see what happens. Don’t overthink it. Trust your creative process. Let the numbers tell you later what’s working.

Need more structure? No problem.

Pick 4–5 content “pillars” related to your work. These are categories or themes you can rotate through—here are mine:

Tiny Business Tips
Neurodivergence + Entrepreneurship
Website Design + DIY Strategy
Behind the Scenes or Personal Updates
Mindset + Creative Flow

Rotate through them to keep things fresh and strategic without starting from scratch every time.

Want to Go SEO-First?

If your brain likes a clear starting point, go keyword-first. Here’s how:

Use keyword research tools (even basic ones like Google autocomplete)
Look for phrases your dream clients are searching for
Write blog posts that answer those exact queries
(Example: “10 Tips for Coach Websites” or “Best Website Layouts for Artists Who Sell Prints”)

You can also use AI tools (my favorite all-in-one SEO tool is Hike.seo!) to help brainstorm blog ideas, offer basic content outlines & structure, do keyword research, and way more! I think it’s okay to have the robots help you start—and then put your human voice on top of it!

Final Cool Tips + Tricks

Reuse. Repurpose. Repost.

You already did the work—use it again! One blog post can become a Reel, a carousel, a script, a caption, a podcast outline, or a workshop segment. Get mileage out of your ideas.

Don’t be afraid to pivot.

Change your strategy if it’s not working. Switch formats. Shift your topics. There are no rules. No one cares. Let that reality set you free.

Revisit your old blogs.

Sometimes there’s gold in posts you wrote two years ago. Update them, expand them, or use them as jumping-off points for new posts.

Check your analytics.

This part isn’t scary, I promise. Just look at what posts are getting traffic, clicks, or replies. That’s your audience waving a flag: “Hey, more of this please.”

Find the value to find your motivation.

Blogging doesn’t have to be a chore. When you know your post is helping someone (or helping your business grow quietly in the background), it feels worth it. Make it matter, and you’ll keep showing up.

Audience Q&A: Blogging Edition

Q: How often do I really need to blog?

There’s no algorithm punishing you here—hooray! One solid post a month (or even every two months) is enough to build up strong SEO momentum over time. Pick a schedule that works for you. The key is consistency + quality > frequency.

Q: Can I post a blog I already wrote as an Instagram caption or newsletter?

Yes! In fact, please do. Blog first, then repurpose. Slice it into a few carousels, pull a line for your newsletter subject, or turn your CTA into a Reel. Start with depth, then simplify for other platforms.

Q: What if nobody reads it?

Somebody will. Maybe not on Day 1. But blog posts are slow-burn content—they get picked up by search, shared in unexpected ways, and referenced later. It’s a marathon, not a dopamine dash.

What We Covered

In Tiny Talks #2, we:

Defined a sustainable, values-driven content strategy
Picked platforms based on energy, not pressure
Created a social intro framework you can actually stick with
Broke down some basic SEO concepts, like Website Density + Internet Density (hi, I made those up)
Reframed blogging as a fun, practical, evergreen tool
Left with a clear path to content that keeps working long after you hit “publish”

Want More?

🎨 Get 3 free illustrations from Melquea to jumpstart your content!

🖥️ Join the waitlist for my Awesome Websites Membership: Templates, trainings, and real support for showing up online—without the spiral.

✨ See you next time! Sign up here!

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