Sara Hodge

08/10/2026

It's a common question, and a perfectly sensible one to ask a marketer.

The answer is, it's a combination of:

- Marketing strategy work - Research + interviewing and active listening with a client's feedback (collaboration)

- Adaptability (general, but also textual)

- Communications expertise - Ability to translate complex or technical information / industry terms into plain language

- Empathy - I need a whole separate post for this one! Watch for updates

If something in your marketing isn't working (even if you're not sure exactly what, or why) and guru videos and masterclasses haven't helped solve it, it's time to pause all the generalized tips and get specific help.

Tap my "Book a call" link in bio to schedule your free Strategic Marketing Direction call.

07/10/2026

Small and medium sized businesses:

Are you using AI in your business but feeling overwhelmed trying to organize all the information you're generating?

Is some of that valuable information getting lost, or unused because you don't have a system in place?

Do you need to customize some of the content before you use it but doing so takes up all the time you're trying to save?

The problem is the workflow.

Join me and my brilliant co-host, long-time AI and automations expert Liz Cripps July 16th for a half day intensive (10-2) in Mississauga: the AI Workflow Lab workshop! You'll leave with:

- Improved prompting skills

- 2 practical workflows you can implement immediately

- Strategies for organizing AI-generated output

- A framework for maintaining your authentic voice

- More confidence in using AI strategically for your business

Bring your laptop and get hands-on help with all of it (and more) + opt in for free 1:1 help for 30 minutes after your session.

Our last one was so good, not only did it sell out but our attendees stayed after the end time to keep discussing everything they learned.

This is not “how to use AI” and it’s not platform specific. It’s also beginner-friendly!

Where is it?

Prima Spaces, Mississauga, 320 Matheson Boulevard West

What is it?

The AI Workflow Lab is a hands-on, expert-led workshop designed for small and medium sized businesses who want to move past just “using AI” to building customized systems that save time, improve consistency and support business goals.

It goes beyond prompting to help you customize & organize and your AI-generated content into time saving, valuable assets.

Got questions? Feel free to message me!

Who is it for? All skill levels!

This workshop is ideal for:

• Small or medium-size businesses
• Office Administrators
• Entrepreneurs
• Content Creators
• Anyone using AI who wants better and more personalized results in an organized workflow they can reuse every day, and less overwhelm.

See info link in comments

06/23/2026

What a great day, full of laughs from a simple pile of plastic spaghetti.

I've joked for years about the old adage "Throwing spaghetti at the wall to see if it sticks" as it relates to marketing without a strategy.

It occurred to me when I was planning my BizCon Business Expo table that actually trying it would be a fun, memorable conversation starter!

A few people seemed to find it too weird, but most of my visitors loved it!

Great to have a way to make people smile and laugh at a business event.

Thank you to Linda Walters of LeadTribes for telling me about Biz Con, so many networking connections in one place!

A successful day that was so much fun.

06/23/2026

06/01/2026

No matter where we're at on our business journeys, the learning never ends.

Sometimes it seems like the challenges might never end, too.

This stuff can feel hard.

But through it all, we're not just building businesses (from scratch, btw) ...

we're building indispensable skills.

Skills to succeed.

Weathering even a single storm as an entrepreneur should be counted as a win.

Keep on learning.

Keep on building.

Keep on expanding your perceptions of what you're capable of.

Then remember to count every lesson as part of your long term success.

05/28/2026

Sold out!

Thank you to everyone who is joining us today for The AI Workflow Lab workshop for business! Bring your laptop - there will be time for some hands-on assistance.

Our attendees get results - that's why our events sell out so fast!

Missed it?

Liz Cripps and I will be announcing new dates in June! Follow to stay in the loop.

Questions? My inbox is always open and I'm happy to share more details.

05/27/2026

Sometimes you might wonder if

all the good you're trying to do,
all the hard work
all the time you're putting in

are really having the impact you hoped for.

They are.

Keep doing that work you're passionate about. It's meaningful... possibly more than you realize.

(P.S. This can go for your marketing, too. Not all touch points are easily measurable but they all matter.)

If you're reading this, you've had an impact on me. So I'd like to pay this gratitude forward - thank you for connecting here.

Thank you of .tribes and group leader for your touching appreciation, and congratulations on your new Milton networking chapter! I loved it, and look forward to more meetups.

05/22/2026

In a digital marketer discussion group recently, I read a post from someone concerned about a new client's complaint:

"The onboarding process is too complicated."

The comments under the post were filled with well-meaning recommendations for Etsy / Pinterest onboarding kit download packages.

I understand why the questionnaire kits are popular - they're beautiful and look well-organized. They're also often 10+ pages.

Some clients prefer an asynchronous onboarding, with time to think and articulate their answers. But for others, a multi-step process or 10-page kit they have to complete solo creates decision fatigue, overwhelm and worse yet, a disconnect before the work even starts.

In 17 years of business, I've learned that onboarding is an opportunity. It doesn't just serve to shape the strategy, it builds trust and momentum. For that to happen, it has to feel comfortable.

My own onboarding process is dead simple.

I just meet with them.

It's nothing revolutionary. It's just a 1:1 where I'm combining typical onboarding steps (information gathering, kickoff, setting expectations, strategy, planning, review) into a more personal experience. The client is actively engaged in the process, listened to and given space to feel heard.

For many clients, a long document just can't build connection, confidence or trust like that.

But this isn't really about meetings vs. kits. It's about optimizing the experience.

Part of a marketer's job is to be mindful of UX. And part of that is finding ways to reduce friction in the customer journey. A client deserves the same level of intentionality we apply when we focus on their audience.

They deserve to feel connected to the process.