Unless you've managed to completely avoid the news, it's a big election season. With anything political, especially in the last few years, it's been challenging for some business owners to figure out where and how to to share their views as they market their businesses.

Political ad spending is trending around $11.07 billion in 2026, up 21.4% from the last midterms, which is driving ad spend up for every other business. Staying quiet or neutral is sending a message but it might not be the one you want.

This episode covers how to market your online business through a hot button election time while sharing your values in a way that feels right for you. Let's be real, it's going to look different for everyone.

You'll hear:

• Why spending in up now and what it means for you as you market your business online
• Why so many people avoid the news, beyond the obvious reasons, and what that means for your business ads
• Why staying neutral and being quiet about political things is BS
• How values impact the trust your clients have in your business especially with digital products
• 6 tips for sharing your opinion to figure out your comfort level

Your audience needs to hear from you. Share how you feel, make it personal, from the heart, they want to know you, it is literally why they are on your page and in your email community.

Ready to build the learning side of your business and launch your digital product ecosystem? The Digital Product Infrastructure Audit is the place to start. Link on show site.

Read more about this topic and more on Build Without the BS, the blog behind the podcast.

Election Day is November 3, 2026. Check your polling place, educate yourself on local issues, make a plan to vote early if you can!

Thank you for listening!

You know you don't HAVE to run a Black Friday sale, right? It is not in the unwritten online business owner handbook. Most shoppers plan to buy well ahead of Black Friday but that doesn't mean you need to rush to throw a sale together or participate at all. If you do want to run a sale, there is one type that might work best. A quick one.

In this episode, we are talking about why you don't have to run a Black Friday sale just because everyone else is and how to figure out if this is the right time to run a promo for your business.

You'll hear:

• What the buyer behavior research is showing for 2026 - It's not buy more.
• How girl math factors into the sale
• Flash sales vs. the long sale
• Running a sale with digital products
• Black Friday vs. an after Christmas sale
• 3 questions to ask before you jump on offering a discount

Black Friday is your choice, never a requirement for your business. It is your business! Everyone else running a promo is not the reason to run one.

Not sure if you should offer a bundle or an upgrade on your product suite or if you have a product suite? That's why we offer a Digital Product Infrastructure Offer. We look at what should be a digital product in your business and what is better as a live offer.

Read more in our blog, Build Without the BS, the blog behind the podcast. Links on the show site.

Thank you for listening!

Business owner burnout is measurable and has been a topic we've talked about before but there's something about the climate lately. I don't know if it's the news stories, cost of living, stress or what but business owners are feeling it. One thing to remember is any sort of funk you are feeling in your business is not a personal failure. It can be backed up by data.

This shorter episode shares some of that data and why it is important to take a break when the world around us feels heavy.

You'll hear:

• Why staying in your lane and ignoring what's happening around you isn't possible as a business owner
• The 2026 small business owner burnout data
• Why rising costs and inflation are hitting harder
• How this impacts your business and what to do about it or not
• Why building digital products gives you options when things feel like too much

If the last week felt like too much, you're not alone and you aren't doing it wrong. You're paying attention to the world around you. And that's what makes you a great business owner. It's probably why your clients love working with you!

When you are ready for some options and outside eyes on what in your business needs attention now and what can wait, book your Digital Product Infrastructure Audit. Link on show site.

Remember to take care of yourself especially as we head into the busy holiday season!

Thank you for listening to Katy Calls BS