The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations Podcast By Kara Duncan cover art

The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations

The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations

By: Kara Duncan
Listen for free

About this listen

Hey there, welcome to "The Kara Report"! Each week, we’re sharing what we see real businesses doing to grow their business and expand their reach to help you grow your business and become a marketing pro. In each episode, we get granular and talk about real-world marketing strategies, what DOESN’T work when scaling your business, and host candid conversations on the latest business and marketing trends. We'll even share the juicy data we collect and behind-the-scenes bloopers as they come.

No fluff, no filler; just authentic, in-depth discussions that explore the key factors that truly make a difference in your business success. After all, we know that marketing your business is about more than Instagram Reels tips and social media algorithm hacks, and great marketing also doesn’t always mean you’re running a successful, profitable business.

While we specialize in content marketing, blogging for SEO, Pinterest marketing, and website copy for our own content marketing agency, all marketing strategies are welcome (and discussed) here. Whether you're an established entrepreneur looking to refine your business or marketing strategy or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, we’re serving up valuable insights designed to help you navigate the ever-changing world of business and marketing.

We believe when you do the work, you’ll reap the rewards and we promise we will focus on results-driven action steps (not the busy work) to help you hit your goals this year.

Now let’s get started!



© 2025 The Kara Report | Online Marketing Tips and Candid Business Conversations
Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • 78 | What NOBODY Tells You About Starting a Podcast (And How To Actually Make Money) with Hayleigh Hayhurst
    Jun 17 2025

    We talk a lot about podcasting as a visibility tool—but what if your podcast could do more than just get listens? What if it could build trust, generate leads, and actually support your bottom line?

    In this episode, I’m joined by Hayleigh Hayhurst—founder of Espresso Podcast Production and total genius when it comes to podcast strategy—for a conversation about what really goes into starting (and sustaining) a profitable podcast. We get into the behind-the-scenes realities, the biggest mistakes new podcasters make, and how to make your show work for your business, not drain it.

    Whether you’re podcast-curious or already deep into your episode archive, this conversation is full of refreshing honesty, actionable strategy, and permission to ditch perfection in favor of real impact.


    🎙️ In This Episode:

    • What nobody tells you about how long podcasting really takes
    • How to market your podcast beyond just posting a few clips
    • The surprising ROI of podcasting that has nothing to do with sponsors
    • Why a 10-episode limited series might be the perfect fit for your business
    • Hayleigh’s take on messy action, burnout, and building a podcast that lasts


    🔗 Links Mentioned:

    • Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/78
    • Learn more about working with Hayleigh: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/
    • Follow Hayleigh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/
    • Learn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/services
    • Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport
    Show more Show less
    37 mins
  • 77 | AI Can’t Replace Your Voice But It CAN Help You Blog Consistently (Here's How) with Ryan Robinson of Right Blogger
    Jun 10 2025

    We talk a lot about traffic, SEO hacks, and cranking out content when we’re trying to grow our online presence. But what if the goal isn’t just more content—but better content that actually connects?

    In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan Robinson—long-time content marketer, blogger, and co-founder of RightBlogger—for a conversation about creating standout content in the age of AI. We talk about why the human element still matters, how AI can actually help instead of hurt your strategy, and what it takes to build content that people (and search engines) truly love.

    This episode is packed with practical tips and fresh perspectives on using AI intentionally, creating with your voice, and staying ahead as the content landscape evolves.

    🎙️ In This Episode:

    • Why blogging is not dead (and how service providers are still seeing big results)
    • What makes content truly connect in an AI-saturated world
    • Ryan’s favorite way to turn a quick video into a full blog post
    • Why “finding the fun” in content creation is the real key to consistency

    🔗 Links Mentioned:

    • Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/77
    • Sign up for RightBlogger: https://rightblogger.com
    • Learn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/services
    • Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport
    Show more Show less
    34 mins
  • 76 | 6 Ways to Turn Your Website Into Your Hardest-Working Team Member with Carolyn Leasure
    Jun 3 2025

    In this episode, I’m joined by Carolyn Leisure—founder of Maypop Creative Studio and website evolution expert—for a conversation about turning your site from a digital business card into your hardest-working team member. We talk about strategy, automation, trust, and how to make sure your website is pulling its weight (so you can get out of your inbox and back into your zone of genius).

    This episode is packed with smart, simple tips to help your website grow with your business—and make your tech stack a whole lot more efficient in the process.

    🎙️ In This Episode:

    • The difference between a “business card” website and a conversion-driven one
    • How to streamline your navigation to avoid decision fatigue
    • What should actually go in your footer (and why it matters for SEO)
    • Carolyn’s 6-part checklist to make your website work smarter, not harder
    • The balance between personalization and privacy in the age of data tracking

    🔗 Links Mentioned:

    • Read the full shownotes: https://thekarareport.com/76
    • Grab the free resources Carolyn mentioned: https://maypopcreativestudio.com/kara
    • Read her blog on zero-party data: https://maypopcreativestudio.com/squarespace-small-business-blog/why-zero-party-data-matters
    • Connect with Carolyn: https://maypopcreativestudio.com/
    • Follow Carolyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maypopcreativestudio/
    • Learn more about working with our team: https://thekarareport.com/services
    • Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thekarareport


    Show more Show less
    39 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup
No reviews yet