Haven Lane Marketing

Haven Lane Marketing Social media management, custom branding, and business consulting for small businesses

Widow’s Bay and your marketing…😉If there are two things I could talk about all day, it’s marketing and TV. So naturally,...
09/15/2026

Widow’s Bay and your marketing…😉

If there are two things I could talk about all day, it’s marketing and TV. So naturally, the Emmys gave me thoughts.

The Emmys were last night, and apparently Widow’s Bay won… a lot. I didn’t watch, but while scrolling TikTok on the treadmill this morning, I saw someone post:

“What the hell is Widow’s Bay?”

And I laughed because I immediately thought: APPLE TV. THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING.

Apple TV has some of the best limited series out there, and yet half the time I want to scream, “WHERE IS YOUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT?”

You just don’t see their shows promoted like you do Netflix, Hulu, Prime or Paramount.

(Also, Taylor Swift made a cameo at the Emmys and I’m secretly still bitter that Paradise didn’t sweep the whole thing, but I digress. 😂)

I watched Widow’s Bay. I thought it was weird. REALLY weird. Comedy horror is a unique choice. I gave it a 6/10.

But then clips started showing up in my feed. I laughed. Things started clicking that I hadn’t fully appreciated while watching.

And eventually I thought… wait. That was actually kind of brilliant.

It was weird. Quirky. It didn’t look or feel like everything else.

And maybe there’s a marketing lesson in that.

We spend a LOT of time looking at what everyone else is doing.

What’s trending? What type of Reel is performing? What hook is everyone using?

There’s value in knowing those things.

But sometimes what wins isn’t what looks like everything else.

Sometimes it’s the weird thing. The quirky thing. The thing someone hasn’t seen 47 versions of already.

Of course, different just for the sake of being different isn’t enough.

Widow’s Bay still had incredible acting, writing and direction.

Your business still needs good strategy, good ex*****on and a reason behind the choices you’re making.

But maybe we don’t always need to be louder.

Maybe we need to be more distinct.

Sometimes it takes people a little while to find you. But when they finally do, you want them thinking:

“Wait… where has THIS been?”

Be weird. Be funny. Be different. There’s an advantage to it. 😉

I closed a pretty big account this week.And funny enough, it reminded me of something I probably shouldn’t admit as some...
08/28/2026

I closed a pretty big account this week.

And funny enough, it reminded me of something I probably shouldn’t admit as someone who makes a living marketing businesses online:

Social media should not be your entire marketing strategy.

There. I said it.

I’ve been networking in some form since 2012, when I started a little photography side gig. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you truly have no idea which connection is going to matter later.

Sometimes you meet someone today and they refer you tomorrow.

Sometimes someone you crossed paths with years ago remembers you when your name comes up in a conversation.

Sometimes you visit a networking group once, answer someone’s question, make an introduction, or simply have a good conversation, and you leave an impression you don’t even realize you left.

That’s the long game.

For a long time, I resisted it. I had built a successful business before by networking almost entirely online, so I thought I could keep doing what had always worked.

Turns out, the world changed. I could evolve with it or eventually go get a 9-to-5 and work for someone else. Amazing what that kind of motivation will do for an introvert. 😂

So I started showing up. Joining things. Meeting people. Building actual relationships.

And today, referrals and connections are a huge reason my social media management roster is officially full. Still figuring out exactly what THAT means and where I go from here. 🙈 (Branding projects, by the way, are still very much open.)

But if you’re building a business from behind your computer and waiting for social media to do all the heavy lifting, maybe this is your nudge to get out of the house.

Meet people. And then, yes, for the love of brand consistency, please still show up online.

Because the person who hears about you at lunch, at a networking event, from a friend, or in a random conversation?

They’re probably going to look you up.

That’s where social media does some of its best work.

It doesn’t always need to make you viral. It needs to make sure that when someone goes looking for you, what they find reinforces exactly why someone recommended you in the first place.

A little photo dump from the past few weeks…err months.Not every moment makes it to social media.Some days I’m on a cont...
07/28/2026

A little photo dump from the past few weeks…err months.

Not every moment makes it to social media.

Some days I’m on a content shoot with a shot list in hand. Other days I’m answering emails from a treadmill because technology has other plans.

Some days I’m networking with other local business owners. Other days I’m celebrating my son’s driver’s license, cheering on my college kid, or trying to work with a dog convinced she’s my assistant.

And yes, there are random selfies that never see the light of day because I spend way too much time overthinking them. 😂

Ironically, I own a social media marketing business, but I’m okay with the fact that my own account isn’t a perfectly curated highlight reel.

I’ve learned that the best marketing doesn’t come from living for the next post. It comes from actually living.

The stories worth telling happen in between the content.

So here’s your reminder, and maybe mine too: show up when you have something to say, don’t let perfection keep you quiet, and don’t forget to put the phone down every once in a while.

The business will still be there.

Life won’t always wait.

Your phone is one of the most valuable marketing tools you own.Yes, I use Canva nearly every day. But if we're relying o...
07/27/2026

Your phone is one of the most valuable marketing tools you own.

Yes, I use Canva nearly every day. But if we're relying on graphics alone, we're missing your biggest advantage: You.

The content that consistently performs best isn't the prettiest graphic I design. It's the photo of your team. The behind-the-scenes video. The quick clip explaining what you do. The project you're proud of. The customer interaction that can't be recreated.

Those are the moments people remember.

Canva helps me organize, polish, and present your brand. But authentic content is what gives it life.

At the end of the day, people don't hire businesses they recognize. They hire businesses they trust.

A brand should reflect who your business is today, not who it was five or ten years ago.This recent project was for an e...
07/18/2026

A brand should reflect who your business is today, not who it was five or ten years ago.

This recent project was for an established company whose services have evolved over the years. Their visual identity simply wasn't telling the same story anymore.

Whether you're launching something new or your business has outgrown its current branding, I can help you create a polished, cohesive brand that reflects who you are and where you're headed.

Happy Social Media Day! (it’s a thing)A few years ago, I never imagined I’d build a business around social media. But he...
06/30/2026

Happy Social Media Day! (it’s a thing)

A few years ago, I never imagined I’d build a business around social media. But here we are. Two and a half years in, a full roster, and still making time to review tv shows in my stories. 😉

I’m officially/unofficially at capacity for full-service social media, which is something I don’t take for granted. Thank you to every client who trusts me with your business. It truly means the world. This doesn’t mean I can’t have conversations or take on new branding clients. Just means, I have a waiting list for full-service social media. I think? I can’t seem to say no...
.. I did just send one more proposal because it involves dogs. 🐶😅 If you know me, you know that one was impossible to resist. I’ll open up my roster for doggies!

06/29/2026

Plot twist: I'm on camera.
These days, it only happens about twice a year. 😜

But this topic has been on my mind, and I wanted to talk about it instead of hiding behind a graphic.

Do I think AI is changing marketing? Absolutely.

Do I think it's replacing great marketers? Not even close.

I think people pressing "0" to talk to a real person says more about the future of marketing than any AI headline ever could...

All 5 of these hit different when you're honest with yourself.Patience isn't optional. Growth takes time and if you're n...
05/21/2026

All 5 of these hit different when you're honest with yourself.

Patience isn't optional. Growth takes time and if you're not willing to wait for it, you'll never actually see it. Quitting too early is the #1 reason social media "doesn't work."

Social media cannot save a broken business model. It amplifies what's already there — good or bad. Fix the foundation first.

Quality matters. But so does consistency. You can't post once a month and wonder why nothing's growing. Both have to show up.

Handing your social media to someone inexperienced because it's cheaper is a short-term fix with long-term consequences. Your brand deserves better than that.

Which one did you need to hear most? Drop the number in the comments. 👇

Marketing is asking your crush on a date.Branding is why they say yes.If your marketing isn't converting, don't post mor...
05/18/2026

Marketing is asking your crush on a date.
Branding is why they say yes.

If your marketing isn't converting, don't post more. Fix the brand first.

That's exactly what I help entrepreneurs do.

05/15/2026

The business is real. The clients are real. The social media presence is... giving witness protection.

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