Some random things:

• I’m doing a reading at Litcrawl SF this year- Oct. 19 at 6:30 pm, it won’t be about coffee

• Recently learned about Class Central, a site that aggregates free online courses from universities and colleges. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn about pretty much anything!

• I attended about 2/3 of LaterCon, an Instagram conference by Later. It was online and free. Not all of the talks were relevant to me but the link above has video replays available for anyone who is interested in learning about Instagram from other industries.

Hope you enjoy the issue!

– Jenn

Featuring my own work & press

How to work when you really aren’t feeling it

I’m going to keep this short because, well, the title probably says it all for you. Trying to work when you know you should but you really, really don’t feel like it has happened to everyone. I’m not talking about being lazy, I’m talking about signs of burnout, depression, and lack of motivation. Since I’ve been dealing with this, I’ll just list some items that have helped me. 

Instead of taking a month off like I’d like to (but can’t for, well, financial reasons), I’ve learned some tactics to make sure I’m giving myself space to work but also handle life. 

• Understand your work style: As you progress through your career, you gain some understanding of how you best work. Whether it’s to-do lists or post-it notes scattered across a blank wall, everyone has their preferences. Learn where you fit in and what works for you (here’s a quiz).

• Prioritize: I don’t work well when there’s a never-ending list. It’s better for me to see five items on a list, knowing that I will complete them all. So out of that never-ending list, I’ll prioritize the most necessary (where due dates absolutely can’t be moved, events, etc.) and do those.

• Readjust expectations: You complete less when you’re in a burnout. And if you don’t have the energy to work as much as before, it makes sense that you won’t complete as much, either. Don’t be so hard on yourself – change up your expectations of what a “successful” work day looks like.

• Ask for help & communicate: This goes hand in hand with the above. If your productivity drops, your manager will likely notice. It’s best to communicate, if you’re in a safe and understanding environment, what’s happening so those expectations can be adjusted.

I am absolutely my own biggest critic so all the above is a work in progress. I know this article isn’t exactly related to coffee marketing but if you are in a lull period, it’s good to remember to take care of yourself. Especially since the holiday marketing season is coming up. 

Quick text updates & links on what's new on the networks

Twitter added: line breaks in a bio (web only) and dragging for rearranging photo uploads. It’s testing: new tabs for bookmarks & lists,

Instagram is working on: tool that replicates TikTok’s features,

Facebook added: Page Live video rehearsals, trimming on livestream replay, ability to schedule Instagram feed and IGTV posts in Creator Studio.

Helpful links on how to improve your digital marketing

New Study Looks at How Emojis, Videos and Caption Lengths Impact Instagram Post Performance

A summary of the report (full report is linked in the article). “Quintly’s researchers found that, despite the rising popularity of video content, images remain the most popular post type for brands on the platform, by a significant margin.”

www.socialmediatoday.com  •  Share

A Step-by-Step Guide to Google My Business: Set Up and Optimize Your Profile [Infographic]

A Google My Business profile can determine a small business’s local success. This thorough guide explains how to set up, maintain, and optimize your Google My Business listing.

www.marketingprofs.com  •  Share

How to Use Live Video for Marketing

Live video pioneer Lauren Teague explains how to use live video for marketing, plus the 3 common mistakes marketers make when pursuing live video content.

www.convinceandconvert.com  •  Share

Anything I've enjoyed reading recently

My Harabeoji Taught Me It’s Always Better to Add More Garlic

“Garlic, they say, is good for your heart, and that is why my grandfather ate it every day.”

catapult.co  •  Share

How to Cultivate Psychological Safety for Your Team, According to Harvard Professor Amy Edmondson

“Here, I sat down with Edmondson, professor at Harvard Business School and author, to learn more about why psychological safety matters for business innovation.”

blog.hubspot.com  •  Share

Here’s How the Illustration Design Trend Caught Fire and Why Every SaaS Is Rebranding

Hundreds of SaaS websites are now using illustrations on their websites. Let’s investigate how this design trend started, and why visual branding matters.

unbounce.com  •  Share

An update from my container garden!

My begonia maculata keeps putting out new leaves, like this orange one!

What'd you think?

Feedback, questions, or fist bumps 👊 – send them my way by hitting the reply button. Also happy with the 👍 at the end. Or find me on the social networks @thejennchen. 

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By Jenn Chen

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💭 Thoughts on digital marketing as they intersect at specialty coffee, social media, writing, photography & social issues.

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🔗 @thejennchen | https://jennchen.com

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