CONTENTIOUSLY ELLE
Not quite hot takes, just honest ones. Thoughts on marketing, community, and showing up online (and in life) with a little more care.
I'm fairly new to running my own business and, oh boy, is 'overwhelmed' an understatement. There have been late nights, moments of self-doubt, anxiety, defeat and plenty of figuring things out as I go! As well as being stretched like like a pizza dough with daily demands! But it's also been exciting and empowering.
When Did You Last Google Your Own Business?
07/08/2025
If you've never typed your own business name into Google, or haven't done it in years, you're not alone. Most small business owners are so focused on keeping things running day to day that their digital presence ends up cobbled together over time: a Facebook page here, an Instagram bio there, maybe a website that's overdue a refresh.
Portlaoise is full of surprises, lots of them hiding in plain sight. And it's the little things that really catch your eye: a weathered gate, some peeling paint, or the twisty curls of ironwork. This series is a quiet celebration of those everyday gateways: places where public and private meet, where past and present linger.I hope you'll join me...
For years, the 7th of July carried weight and was anchored to a chapter that once tried to confine me. But I don't live in those pages anymore. I've moved forward with intention, refusing to be held down, boxed in, or defined by roles or expectations that held no truth. This date now marks something entirely mine that's built on...
We live in a world where influence is measured in numbers: followers, likes, views, reach. We're told to "build a personal brand", "grow an audience", "get visible!" But here's the thing no one tells you... most small business owners aren't influencers. And they don't need to be!
Marketing doesn't have to be flashy ads, viral videos, or exhausting content schedules. For small business owners, especially in close-knit communities like Portlaoise, the best kind of marketing can be the kind that doesn't feel like marketing at all.
Why is Social Media Not Social Anymore?
22/06/2025