How to Be More Engaging

If you want more views on your business content, you don’t have to be a celebrity (although that makes things a lot easier). All you have to do is help your audience get to know you, and by doing so, humanize your business.

Some people are gifted engagers. They naturally know how to get people interested in their stuff. But for most of us, it’s a learned activity. If you’re not a born engager, here are five things you can do to improve your business content.

5 Engaging Content Tips

First, you don’t have to share everything about your life, but opening up to your audience can go a long way in helping them know, like, and trust you.

It may feel awkward sharing something that has nothing to do with your business, but if you’re talking about a part of you, like your dreams and your struggles, people will identify with you and that increases the draw of your content.

Sharing the Challenges

My neighbor has an e-commerce wellness business. She was recently hit hard by Hurricane Helene. She lost the bottom floor of her home and all her products. Instead of hiding that from her audience, she has shared it in spades. Through live videos every day since the hurricane, she has documented her struggles and her triumphs, her bad times and her blessings. Her audience has been very responsive and when she’s back up and running, I have no doubt they will support the rebuilding of her business. She showed her audience her humanity and they have laughed and cried with her.

For the Love of the Team

Another thing you can share are the triumphs and tribulations of your favorite team, whether that’s your favorite pro, college, or little ones’ team. Don’t be concerned that if you show a love for “State” that you’ll alienate the “University of” crowd. After all, your sports enemies may get a kick out of teasing you after a loss.

Showing the Love

If you feel comfortable with it—and they support you doing so—share info about your family. People love to know you have family and friends. “Family” includes your pets. If you show the love, your audience will see you in a new light and feel a greater connection with you.

Once Upon a Time

We all started somewhere. Sometimes beginnings are comical, and we can barely believe we’ve made it as far as we have. Other times there are serious lessons to be shared. Talk about your origin story. How did you get to where you are?

Full Team Ahead

In addition to sharing stories and information about yourself, get your team involved. Encourage them to tell their stories as well as share their favorites. By helping your audience get to know you, they’ll see your business as something more than just a money maker.

When your business is competing on prices alone, it’s a slippery slope to the bottom cost. When they support you for a reason other than you being the cheapest in town, you’ll have more loyal customers as well.

Finally, it’s best to share this engaging content in the medium that you feel the most comfortable with and the form(s) you’ll stick to. That being said, video is one of the best ways to show your humanity and help people identify with you. If you’re not currently doing video, it may be the difference between a lukewarm following and one that takes off.

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Christina Metcalf is a writer/ghostwriter who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She loves road trips, hates exclamation points, and really dislikes this hurricane season so far.

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Medium: @christinametcalf

Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking

Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor

LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

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Brain Fog Is Costing Your Business More Than You Think – Here’s How to Clear It

March 9, 2026

For a small business owner, the most critical piece of equipment isn't your laptop, your CRM, or your delivery van—it’s your brain. When you are the visionary, the strategist, and the customer service department, your cognitive clarity determines your bottom line. However, "founder’s fatigue" often leads to the dreaded brain fog: that sluggish, scattered feeling where making a simple decision feels like wading through molasses. Here’s how to optimize your neural hardware for peak performance and clear the fog of overload. You do it for your equipment. You deserve (at least) the same level of care. 1. Master the "Context Switching" Fee Every time you jump from an invoice to a marketing tweet to a customer complaint, your brain pays a switching fee. Research suggests this can lower productivity by up to 40%. The Fix: Time-Batching. Group similar tasks together. Dedicate Tuesday mornings solely to social media content for the month and Thursday afternoons to invoicing. This allows your brain to stay in one "mode" and reduces the cognitive load of pivoting between these very different tasks. 2. Fuel the Biological Machine Your brain represents only 2% of your body weight but consumes about 20% of its energy. If you fuel it with erratic caffeine spikes and skipped lunches, it will underperform. The Fix: Prioritize neuro-protective fats (like Omega-3s) and complex carbohydrates that provide a steady stream of glucose. Most importantly, hydration is non-negotiable; even 2% dehydration can significantly impair tasks that require attention and memory. 3. Implement an "External Brain" Brain fog is often the result of Open Loop Syndrome—the mental exhaustion caused by trying to remember ten different unfinished tasks. Just like on your computer when you have too many tabs open, performance decreases. The Fix: Use a Capture System. Whether you use a digital app or a physical notebook, get every "to-do" or concern out of your head the moment it appears. When your brain knows the information is recorded safely elsewhere, it can stop using energy on that thought, freeing up bandwidth for deep work. 4. Optimize Your Sleep Architecture Sleep isn't just downtime. It’s when your brain’s glymphatic system flushes out metabolic waste (essentially "washing" your brain). For a business owner, a missed hour of sleep is a direct hit to your emotional intelligence and decision-making speed, not to mention it often impacts your personality and desire to do the difficult work. The Fix: View sleep as a non-negotiable business appointment. Aim for a consistent "wind-down" period 30 minutes before bed where screens are banned. Quick Tips for Immediate Fog-Clearing When you hit a wall in the middle of the workday, try these easy pattern interrupters: · The 10-Minute Walk - Increases blood flow to the hippocampus and resets focus. · Box Breathing - Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Calms the nervous system. · Single-Tasking - Close every tab except the one you’re currently working on. · Cold Exposure - A splash of cold water on the face triggers the diving reflex, slowing heart rate and increasing alertness. You don’t need to work more hours. Instead, make the hours you work more effective. By treating your brain with the same respect you give your business finances or equipment, you'll find that the fog lifts, leaving room for the clarity and innovation that started your business in the first place. Read More: 4 Simple Management Tasks to Make More of Your Limited Time Breaking the Burnout Cycle for Small Business Success Why Having a Hobby is Great for Business -------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She’s the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within and is currently writing a book for burnt-out overachievers entitled, When Great Isn’t Good. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5