The Web.Search.Social Podcast | Business, Online Marketing & Productivity

A listener told us that she's paying for marketing but doesn't know what she's paying for. We talk about a better a better way to communicate with your marketing team and how to get results. The post Do You Know What You're Paying Your Marketing Company For? appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

A reasonably ranty look at WordPress 5.0 and Gutenberg, plus why we get up in the morning and don't get bored with our jobs, and how Fancy Tea turned into a family story (and a great marketing opportunity). The post From WordPress To Tea: The Good, The Bad & The Fancy appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

In which we retcon the whole darn thing and return from a hiatus from a hiatus to talk about marketing. Be successful by NOT following the rules. The post In Which We Learn That Ralph & Carol Lynn Are Not Dead appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We've been asked an embarrassing number of times why it's been so long since our last podcast, so here's the short story. It begins with the death of our cat... through selling a house, running three businesses and traveling the country. Join us on our journey! The post The Times They Are A Changin' … A New Adventure Awaits! appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

If you want to be a conference speaker Ian shares insights into the benefits, challenges and drawbacks. He talks about why he decided to speak, why nerves are a good thing and how you may not know you like it until you try it. The post Ian Anderson Gray On The Business And Personal Sides Of Conference Speaking appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we talk about aggressive, persistent marketing with Ian Anderson Gray. It starts with email marketing and digresses to a conversation about Jehovah's Witnesses and whether their persistence creates a branding problem for them. The post Nadia Bracken Brings The Hotness appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

There's a process behind creativity, and work, too. Today we talk with a filmmaker and author about how he starts (and finishes!) creative projects, plus more on marketing and building a fan base. The post The Creative Process Is Not All Rainbows And Unicorns appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

As an entrepreneur you're always going to be dealing with time issues, namely lack of it. Time sucks come in many forms, from big crises like death or health problems, to small ones like spam or unsolicited emails. But how do you deal with them? The post Time Sucks, A Yucky Interface And Other Business Conundrums appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

When no social sharing plugin met their needs, 3 men set out to develop their own and Warfare Plugins was born. This is how they built a social plugin that beats out the rest when it comes to beauty and functionality and how they service customers. The post Warfare Plugins: Saving The World One Share At A Time. A Chat With Dustin Stout And Nick Cardot. appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Naming a new product or business comes with unique challenges, from coming up with a name to having a good story to finding a domain that matches. We talk about our own challenges and some of the things we've done to work through the process. The post The Challenges Of Naming A New Product Or Business appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Kate Ahl built a business around being a Pinterest expert for bloggers. We talk about how she started her business and built a loyal customer base, what it takes to succeed in a busy niche and whether the world really needs another Pinterest person. The post How Do You Make A Niche Business Succeed? appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Marketing automation can help you save time and keep your sales funnel flowing. But there's a line between automation and acting like a robot. Today we talk about how too much automation and not enough human interaction loses sales. The post How Marketing Automation Fails When It Feels Like Automation appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Craig McBreen joins us to talk about what branding is, how your personal brand and business brand intersect and what you need to think about as you develop a brand. The post Your Brand Is More Than Your Logo: On Messaging, Consistency And Your “Why” appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We answer a listener who asked us whether a proposal she received for developing branding, logo and website was fairly priced. Plus we talk about prank videos, reaction videos and strange licensing schemes. The post Website Costs And Dangerous Video Trends appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Being a podcast guest can help you generate leads but you need systems in place to make it an effective marketing tactic. We talk about what those are, then dive into masterminds, how they can help you, how to set one up and what you can expect. The post The Power Of Being A Podcast Guest Plus Why And How To Mastermind appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Does caffeine get you going or just create an illusion productivity? We talk about getting out of the whirlwind, learning to relax and what it takes to be productive. Plus how to tell a better business story and why empathy wins over confrontation. The post Storytelling, Productivity And Business Lessons Learned At Gunpoint appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We talk with this family of tea importers and tea blend mixologists about how they got involved in the tea business, how to brew a great cup and how they get the word out about their products. The post Tea Time With Simpson & Vail: History, Brewing And The Entrepreneurial Journey appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

On our last solo episode of the year we talk about what you can do in the upcoming year (and beyond) to improve your business. From tiny details to big steps, make this a year of better work and more play. The post 10 Ideas To Make Your Business Better In 2016 appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Instead of aiming to be the best, how about simply seeking "better"? We talk to Terry Lancaster about how to build good habits for business, fitness and life by taking small, simple actions every day. The post Get Better! Improve Your Life And Business One Small Action At A Time appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We talk about our breakup with iTunes and some podcatcher apps we like. Plus we discuss the effects of physical health on your business and productivity. Finally, we issue a productivity challenge to you with a free downloadable action item list. The post Podcatchers, Health & Business, And An Action Item Challenge appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we record live from a BNI meeting at Tapeo restaurant in Hazlet New Jersey. It's just one of many chapters of this international networking group but it will give you a look at how meetings work, what to expect, how to get referrals and more. The post BNI Live! Peek Into The Inner Workings Of A Real Networking Meeting appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we take on an article circulating on Facebook that talks about the prevalence of sexism, whether or not sexism is actually prevalent and if there's a difference between "real life" and social media. We also discuss Dreamweaver vs. WordPress. The post In Which We Solve Sexism With Disembodied Heads. Plus, Mike Allton Dies. appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we talk about why free stuff is bad – not just for business people who spend a lot of time and energy on free products, webinars or consultations but for the people who get the free stuff, too. The post Free Is A Four-Letter Word: Why It’s Worse For Business Than You Think appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We talk about the manufactured outrage over Starbucks' red holiday cup, a thing we're calling "outrage fatigue" and why businesses need to beware the outrage bandwagon. Plus which clients should you send gifts to? And how much should you spend? The post Bah Humbug! Christmas, Outrage And Client Gift Dilemmas appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We talk with Mojca Mars about whether the "femtrepreneur" movement is isolating and excluding women rather than promoting their interests. We take on common views and misconceptions about sexism and dare you to be yourself no matter what that means. The post Femtrepreneurship Or Femtrepreneurshit? On Women And Self-Inflicted Sexism. appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

It's our After Hours episode and today we're really taking Thanksgiving to heart by talking about what we're thankful for plus more about our tea snobbery, honey, apple pie and farm raised meat. The post After Hours: All Food, All The Time (Plus Gratitude!) appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We talk to Sarah The Rebel, author of Marvel's Agent Carter: Season One Declassified and self described angry, feminist geek. She tells us about how she got started on her entrepreneurial journey and the fun and challenges she had along the way. The post Superhero Sarah The Rebel On Writing For Marvel’s Comic Universe. Plus: Legs, Poop And A Tank Top appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we answer listener questions about when it's ok to give stuff away for free and how to extricate yourself from a guest blogging commitment. Plus we talk about recovering from entrepreneurial failure. The post You Asked, We Answer: Business, Freebies And Guest Blogging Conundrums appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we talk to Geoff Livingston about two topics: the first is his experience publishing (and his transition from business to fiction, traditional publishing to self publishing) and the second is the sunsetting of his marketing agency. The post Know When To Fold ‘Em: Recognizing The End Of The Road For Your Business appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we talk about how we've been brainwashed to think that the way to make money is by giving stuff away for free. And we stop the madness by offering alternatives to a constant stream of free content and offers. The post Death To Free: How To Get Paid For What You Do appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Podcast engineer Chris Curran joins us to talk about pivoting in your business, whether you decide it's time to change or you're forced into one. We talk about how to know when it's time to pivot and what it means for your entrepreneurial journey. The post Pivoting In Business: The Agony, The Ecstasy And The Oreos appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we talk about how to repurpose content you've already created. We also discuss whether it's possible to separate your business and personal life and if saying, "It's not personal, it's just business" is valid or just an excuse for bad behavior. The post Curating (Your Own) Content And The Fictitious Line Between Business And Personal appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today's "after hours" episode covers books, movies, apple pie and prostate exams. And we promise it's fun. Join us as we take a break from business (mostly) and host our once-per-month show about all the other things that go into making life happen. The post After Hours: Apple Pie, The Martian, Game Of Thrones & Prostates appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We hit our one year podcast anniversary and 150 episodes today! We plan to keep going and talk more about how to start a business, sustain a business, manage a business, make money with a business and market a business – all while enjoying your life. The post How To Have Your Business And Enjoy It, Too: The One Year Podcast Anniversary Episode appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

When you start a business venture with partners, consider your Shareholder or Operating Agreement so everyone knows how the business works and what to expect. The post A Puzzling Tale Of Ants, Popcorn And Shareholder Agreements appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Today we're talking about health because if your physical or mental health suffers, so will your business. We talk eating healthy, exercise, taking a "brain break" and taking care of yourself so you can enjoy the fruits of your labors. The post A Healthy Discussion About What Ryan Hanley And Carol Lynn’s Boobs Have In Common appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

From believing the promises of get-rich internet schemes to finding his passion in helping people, Wade Harman has made the mistakes so many have made, and ultimately experienced the success that comes with perseverance and being true to yourself. The post How One Man Turned An Internet Marketing Fail Into Relationship Marketing Success appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Periscope, Meerkat and live streaming. It's the hot new marketing trend. But how do you know if it's right for you? That's what we tackle today as we share different perspectives with Ryan Hanley of Content Warfare fame. The post When Should You Jump On A Marketing Trend? appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Marketing isn't magic. Content marketing is old news. And sales letters with typos may convert better than perfect ones. In his book The Nuclear Chowder Marketing Method, Mike Brooks takes on marketing fundamentals. The post Get More Leads, Customers And Profits With The Nuclear Chowder Marketing Method appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Being an entrepreneur is hard but it has its rewards – namely freedom. Today we talk about the ups and downs and the decisions you have to make – from business models to revenue streams, partnerships and more. The post The Entrepreneurial Journey: It Sucks, But It’s Awesome, Too appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Backlinks, branding, competing with big brands and more… that's what we talk about with Mark Traphagen of Stone temple Consulting, who spends time "failing so you don't have to." The post Google Aliens, Conspiracies And The Truth About SEO appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

If you work in a service business, your cash flow problems may not be about how many customers you have or how much you charge. It could be a result of your poor billing habits. The post The Tale Of The 14 Month Old Invoice appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

You may be busy perfecting email subject lines and crafting engaging Facebook posts. You may even be getting leads. But are you losing customers and sacrificing loyalty because you lack good old-fashioned people skills? The post Are You Losing The Sale At The Register? How Customer Experience Can Make Or Break Your Business. appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Periscope is the hot new thing in video streaming, but is it right for your business? Before you jump on this – or the next trend – stop to consider the fundamentals of marketing. Think strategy, not tools. And beware confusing engagement with success. The post On Periscope, Marketing Fads And The Red Herring Of “Engagement” appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Small business owners make a lot of financial mistakes, from not recording expenses to not tracking time to under pricing and more. Today we talk to Numbers Whisperer Nicole Fende about how to approach finances differently and more effectively. The post Numbers Can Be Fun! Learn To Love And Manage Your Business Finances appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Take a moment to evaluate the plans, decisions and resolutions you made in 2014 for 2015. The year isn't over yet. Let's re-evaluate the remaining half of 2015 and throw some daggers at your unfulfilled resolutions and plans. The post Throw Some Daggers… At Your Business appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

What is a "bad word"? Today we explore the effects of language and why it matters to you, your business and marketing. The post To Swear Or Not To Swear: Marketing, The F-Word And Other Language Conundrums appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

We're tired of reading articles that talk about "what successful people do" and hand out steps to success like candy. Today we talk about what success really means and how you may want to change your mindset and think about getting there. The post How To Be Successful By Not Following The 7 Steps To Success appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Did you know… that your networking group is your sales force? Today we talk about what networking is (both formal and casual) how to do it well, what mistakes to avoid, what makes a good group, a good meeting and more. The post Are You Networking Wrong? How To Be Interesting, Build Relationships And Earn More Business. appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

I've ben fixated on the video streaming service Periscope the past few weeks. I wrote about Periscope on my personal blog, but today I want to talk about the genesis of Periscope and what your business can learn from it. The post Meerkat, Periscope And The Danger Of Jumping On Marketing Trends appeared first on Web.Search.Social.

Right up there with "write epic content" and "be awesome", you probably hear or read something every day that reminds you to "provide value to customers." But what does that mean? It may or may not be price, service, experience or anything else. The post “Provide Value To Customers,” They Say. But What Does That Mean? appeared first on Web.Search.Social.