The podcast for Christian small-business owners. The Purpose Local podcast is designed to help Christian business owners improve their local business, grow their faith, and better serve their community. Enjoy!
When you own a small business, you usually have a LOT more things to do than you have time to do them. That's why delegating is such an important part of any growing small business. One of the first things that often gets delegated is marketing. But when it comes time to get help with marketing, how do you know the difference between a quality marketing person and someone who's just trying to take your money? Here are a few things that will help you know.
In this episode of the Purpose Local Podcast, I talk about one of the things that Chick-Fil-A does best that every small business should strive to do. I search for a local dentist and discuss what some of them are doing well and what others are doing terribly. Lastly, I talk about an article about Instagram that is very important for small businesses looking to get the most out of IG. Let’s get into it.
I’ll confess…I’m a DIY guy. I like fixing my own house. I like working on my own cars. I totally understand when someone says, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Unfortunately for us DIYers, that statement is wrong. In this episode, I talk about the 3 BIG reasons why small-business owners should NOT do everything themselves. I discuss how to identify the things that should be delegated. I also give a few simple tips about training your employees. Let’s get into it.
There are a lot of different ways that new customers will discover your small business. Understanding the most common avenues will help you make better decisions about your current marketing and your marketing plans for the future. In this episode, I talk about 5 common ways that new people find out about your local business. I discuss the pros and cons of each, and I talk about why some marketing channels work better than others…depending on your business. Let’s get into it.
One of the BIGGEST marketing opportunities for local small businesses is local SEO (Search Engine Optimization). The reality is that there are potential customers in your local area who are actively going to Google looking for the product or service that you sell. That’s why it’s incredibly valuable to show up high in the Google rankings. In this episode, I talk about 3 things that every small-business owner should know about local SEO. These aren’t the ONLY things that are important, but they will get your business headed in the right direction. Let’s get into it.
Most small businesses have a logo, but often small-business logos are terrible. Small-business owners frequently pick their logo without giving it much thought. They don’t consider whether that logo is helping their business or not. That’s a mistake. In this episode, I talk about 3 things that make a great small-business logo. I also give you several real-world examples of logo upgrades, and I share with you my current favorite logo (and it’s NOT mine). Let’s get into it.
Most small businesses, especially when they are first getting started, could use some more customers. Often times there are a lot of people who would buy from you, but they don’t even know you exist. That’s why so many small-business owners turn to online advertising in order to reach more people. In this episode, I talk about a fundamental difference between Google Adwords and Facebook ads. I discuss a few tips that will help you decide which one to use, and what you need to know before you get started. Let’s get into it.
Confusion is NOT your friend when you own a small business. Unfortunately, many small-business owners are so close to their business that they have a hard time putting themselves in the shoes of their customers. As a result…things get confusing. In this episode, I talk about why you have to keep things simple. I discuss 4 things that you need to make sure are right in order to get the most out of your marketing and see your small business growl. Let’s get into it.
These days, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a couple of marketing gurus. Seems like everyone has a podcast, a book, or some course that is going to teach you how to be successful. Some of that advice is great. Some of that advice is terrible. How can you tell the difference? In this episode, I give you advice about advice. Who should you take advice from? What are some of the warning signs that someone is trying to take advantage of you? Also, I talk about the 5 timeless foundations of success that you must apply if you want to be successful. Let’s get into it.
Building a successful local business is tough…even when you do everything right. If you are unknowingly lying to yourself…well…that makes building a successful local business is even more difficult. In this episode, I talk about a really common small-business lie that small-business owners often believe. I discuss why it’s a problem and what you should do about it. Let’s get into it.
Whether you are a Christian or not, growing a successful small business is difficult. Even when you do everything right, the process of growth usually takes longer than we all would like. In this episode, I talk about the importance of proper faith. I discuss one of the common reasons why God makes us wait. I also talk about the danger of unrealistic expectations. Let’s get into it.
So your small business isn’t in the top 3 of Google in your area. Who cares? None of your people come from the internet anyway…right? In this episode, I talk about why it matters to be ranked high on Google. I discuss how being ranked 1st impacts your
Most of your future customers have options. You aren’t the only place to get the product/service that you sell. Because of that, customers can be picky. In this episode, I talk about the different pathways that customers use to choose products and services. I talk about why websites and reviews are important in 3 of the 4 pathways. I ask small-business owners a simple question, “Would you choose you?” Let’s get into it.
Are negative reviews the end of the world for your small business? Some business owners act that way. Is the goal to have a perfect 5-star rating? In this episode, I talk about negative reviews. I discuss what to do and what NOT to do when you get one, and how getting a negative review can actually be a good thing for small businesses. Let’s get into it.
We all know that feeling when someone refers a new customer to your small business. It’s awesome! But do you know how referrals happen? Did you know that word-of-mouth advertising isn’t the same now as it used to be? In this episode, I talk about the modern referral. I discuss what has changed over the last 10 years and where your future customers/clients/patients are going to get their recommendations. Let’s get into it.
If you own a local business, you definitely want to show up as high as possible in the Google search rankings. After all, more of your future customers are searching Google than anything else. In this episode, I talk about why Google cares about reviews. I discuss the two main ways that online reviews can help your business show up higher in the Google rankings, and why you should care. Let’s talk about it.
The last year has been really hard for many small-business owners. Government rules and regulations have forced many businesses to close. Some of them have closed for good. In this episode, I talk about what Christian business owners should do when they don’t agree with the government. What does the Bible say? Is it ok to disobey the laws? Let’s talk about it.
In this episode, I talk about why the different ways that customers find small-businesses. I discuss why Google is so important, and which small business owners need to focus on Google in this new year. Let’s talk about it.
In this episode, I talk about the importance of a simple, clear message. So many small businesses have cluttered and confusing website home pages. If people don't know what you do, they won't buy from you. Let’s talk about it.
In this episode, I talk about some foundational aspects of a successful small business. I discuss why outreach and retention are so important. I also talk about the role trust plays in the success of small-business. Let’s talk about it.
In this episode, I talk about why unrealistic expectations make business ownership so much harder. I discuss the BIG lie that Christian business owners tell themselves. I also give a few tips about what to do going forward. Let’s talk about it.
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of looking for shortcuts and business home runs. But that’s now how must small businesses become successful. In fact, always looking for a shortcut is a great way to fail as a small business. So, don’t do that. In this episode, I talk about why habits and consistency are the secrets to success for small-business owners. I also share my favorite consistency Bible verse. Let’s talk about it.
Your future customers are searching Google. What will they find or NOT find out about you? If you want to grow your small business, it's critically important that you show up well in the local search rankings. How do you do that? Let’s talk about it.
Success doesn’t just fall out of the sky. It doesn’t work that way for believers or non-believers. If you want to grow your business, you have to put in the work. You have to develop your skills. You have to be prepared. Let’s talk about it.
Most small-business owners are NOT entrepreneurs, and that's OK. The important thing is that you understand the difference and make decisions accordingly. If you don't, you will end up wasting time and money while trying to grow your small business. Let's
Everyone wants their small business to explode overnight. Sure, it may take some people 10 years to get their business going, but not you. Your business is going to go from 0-100 in no time…or is it? In this episode, I talk about how to become an overnight success. I discuss the 3 keys to seeing BIG change quickly. Enjoy!
Starting and growing a small business is difficult. Even if it’s the most well-thought-out business with the hardest-working owner, it’s still tough. If you have a poorly-thought-out small business, growing it goes from tough to impossible. In this episode, I ask a very simple question, “Does your small business make sense?” If you haven’t ever thought about it, now is the time. Enjoy!
Most small-business owners are on social media. But not every small-business owner understands why. Let’s talk about it. In this episode, I talk about the two ways to use social media to help your local business. I also discuss what type of businesses are most likely to go viral and why. Enjoy!
The world is changing. Being a Christian used to be in style here in the USA, but that’s not the case anymore. So what is a Christian-business owner supposed to do? The book of Daniel has some things to teach us about how to function in a culture that is anti-Christian. Let’s talk about it.
Automation always sounds like a good thing. Why would you do something yourself when you can have a computer or some software do it for you? Technology has its place, but there are times when trying to automate things just ends up hurting your small business. Let’s talk about it.
Your business doesn’t help everyone. It can’t. We know that deep down inside, but most small-business owners haven’t ever applied that knowledge to their business. As a result, their marketing isn’t very effective and they end up doing a lot for a little. Let’s talk about it.
In this episode, I talk about 4 foundational things that every small-business needs. I discuss the importance of business fundamentals, internal systems, outreach, and community.
Welcome to the all-new Purpose Local podcast for Christian small-business owners. In this episode, I introduce myself, the podcast, and I give a brief overview of the vision of Purpose Local.