Podcasts about marketing your business

Erica discusses her business's challenges and progress. She plans to convert her bedroom into a podcast studio to save on office costs, which were $1,900 monthly. Despite a successful spring rush with positive reviews and new hires, she faced financial strains from vehicle accidents and inefficient spending. Erica decided to end her lease at an office space and rent a virtual address instead. She emphasizes the importance of smart financial decisions, cutting costs, and reinvesting in marketing. The need to hire an operations manager and the benefits of using virtual assistants is also discussed.  Scoop Con 2025 (May 23-24, 2025) https://scoopcon.com/  Comments and Questions are welcome.   Send to: thescooppodcast22@gmail.com

Branding photographers, if you're experiencing inconsistent inquiries, bookings, or revenue in your branding photography business, your content might be the missing link! In this episode, I'm breaking down tactical, actionable strategies to share strategic content that attracts high-end branding clients and keeps your calendar full!Want to consistently fill your calendar with high-end branding clients? Visit https://angiemcpherson.com/booked to save your seat for my free LIVE class, 3 Secrets to Booking Out Your Branding Photography Calendar! I'm excited to equip you with actionable tips to elevate your marketing strategy, keep your calendar booked, and boost your revenue in 2025!This is one of my most downloaded episodes, so I'm bringing it back for a re-cast! Whether you're tuning in for the first time or giving it another listen, you're going to walk away with so much value. Get ready to refresh your strategy and take action! (This episode originally aired on September 12, 2024.)Connect with me on Instagram:https://instagram.com/angiejanine

In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk discusses her Marketing Made Simple program and the SWEEP method, which focuses on utilizing social media, websites, emails, events, partnerships, and publicity to grow small businesses. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, community engagement, and practical steps that entrepreneurs can take to enhance their marketing strategies. The episode provides actionable insights for small business owners looking to improve their marketing efforts and build a strong brand presence.Join the Dear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forumGet on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business:https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlistDon't forget to follow Lindsay and Dear FoundHer... on Instagram: Interested in Flodesk? Here's 50% off your first year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's podcast interview explores Keysawn Ferguson's journey from banking into a side hustle inspired by the "Side Hustle Nation" podcast to now a multi-truck pet waste removal service operating in multiple cities. Erica and Keyshawn discuss his initial marketing efforts, the growth of his company, challenges like competition and hiring, and strategies for customer acquisition and retention, offering insights into building and scaling a service-based business. Connect with Keyshawn: https://pawfectpoopremoval.com/   Scoop Con 2025 (May 23-24, 2025) https://scoopcon.com/  Comments and Questions are welcome.   Send to: thescooppodcast22@gmail.com

We continue our series on marketing your business for sales growth in-store and online in 2025 with tips on website and marketing setups that make shopping your online store easier and reduce purchase friction,For more details, check out our latest blog post - https://blog.workstand.com/make-shopping-easyDesign - minimal clutter, accessibility Make it easy for shoppers to find what they are looking forSearch functionNavigation - minimal clicks, don't bury the shop button, organizationDistinct calls to action - send shoppers to intuitive links where they can purchase the item your suggestingSingle page checkout - new enhancement Follow up and post purchase communicationsThe purchase journey does not end when they complete their purchase on your website - think of this as just the first step in their next purchase with youCommunicate clear fulfillment expectationsLeverage your website to keep them coming backKeep fresh content up so return visitors see something newWorkstandIQ Loyalty - automated, transactional emailsBe sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.Find Us on LinkedInRyan Atkinson, President + Co-OwnerSuzie Livingston, Marketing + CommunicationsMark Still, Business DevelopmentWe also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@works...

Join us for an in-depth conversation with marketing expert Michael Tandridge about business growth strategies for 2025. From the psychology behind marketing decisions to practical tips on YouTube SEO, Google Local Service Ads, and building a strong digital presence. Learn how to generate more leads, understand the power of process implementation, and discover why traditional marketing methods still work in a digital age. Perfect for business owners looking to scale their operations and improve their marketing strategy in 2025.

Erica is joined by William, a successful dog waste removal entrepreneur, who discusses his business, Swoop Scoop, and its associated community, Poop Scoop Millionaire. He shares his experiences overcoming significant personal and professional challenges, including a mold-infested house and the death of his dog, while simultaneously growing his multiple seven-figure businesses. The conversation also covers business strategies such as sales techniques, marketing approaches (including the use of free initial cleanings), and handling competition. Finally, William promotes an upcoming live event for Poop Scoop Millionaire members. Comments and Questions are welcome.   Send to: thescooppodcast22@gmail.com

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Tim Tebow, LIVE and in-person at Clay Clark's December 5th & 6th 2024 Thrivetime Show  Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Vince Quinn works with entrepreneurs, charitable foundations, and brands to unlock the power of marketing and community building through podcasts. Before jumping into podcasting, Vince spent nearly 10 years in radio, working his way from handing out t-shirts at bars to hosting the nationally syndicated The Vince Quinn Show across 225 stations in the US and Canada. He's now the host his own show about running business podcasts called “It's Not Just Talking.” For more information, visit https://sbxproductions.com.

Building an industry-leading business never stops, and it all starts with how you're developing yourself. If you've listened to the show this year, you've heard Harmony Brown of Greenworks Inspections often. But instead of co-hosting for this episode... she's fresh off the heels of delivering the Keynote address at Inspection Fuel 2024. She's one of the easiest people to talk to, and every conversation is entrepreneurial gold! So listen, subscribe, share... all the things.

Join my 5- day make sales challenge webinar and get free coaching from me for 1 year: https://selar.co/1m67u1

Let's be real: social media is packed right now with what I like to call “hype marketing.” You know the posts—“biggest launch in the history of network marketing,” “a compensation plan like nothing you've ever seen.” It's constant. But here's the truth: these tactics aren't just overused; they're actually driving people away and undermining your business's credibility. If you've been caught up in this approach—maybe because it's what's being taught or you're following what everyone else is doing—I want you to know that it's ok and you can start doing things differently. In this episode, I share the four reasons why hype marketing is hurting your business and I reveal what you can do to start building a lasting business with heart over hype! Listen to Learn 5:00 - How hype marketing sets bad expectations and has you marketing from a place of fear  8:10 - A real life example of what I'm seeing in the marketplace at this time 10:27 - A special ask for you regarding how you can support this podcast and its message 12:26 - What I would be doing differently to market with integrity  15:21 - The ways in which hype marketing attracts the wrong people to you and what you really need to build a solid foundation for your business  18:24 - Why you always need to be thinking long-term while keeping your brand and reputation in mind  19:56 - Something you'll notice about the true effectiveness of hype marketing  21:36 - A final reminder about where credibility is born from and why hype is never going to get you there     Follow me on Threads & Instagram at @bob_heilig Join our free Network Marketing Community Subscribe to our YouTube Channel  

Marketing; we all love it or hate it. Some of us are scared about putting ourselves out there or we love the thought of people wanting to buy from us. Many people overcomplicate marketing so we're going to look at some of the basics. Find us here:Book a call with us: https://nextadvisory.nz/#book-onlineVisit our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/nextadvisory.nz/Acess to our free business planning and cashflow module: https://www.skool.com/nextadvisory-business-basics-5934/about

Welcome to Episode 138 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing In Episode #138 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing, I'm sharing a concept I call “Marketing Your Business with Amazon's Help.” Whether ... The post Praestabilis – Excellence in Marketing – 138 first appeared on Connie Ragen Green Podcast. The post Praestabilis – Excellence in Marketing – 138 appeared first on Connie Ragen Green Podcast.

Messaging is MASSIVELY important to your business - which is all the WORDS you use to communicate what you do & the value of what you offer. READ MORE HERE***GET THE MOVVE METHOD training to discover the 5 steps to grow & generate consistent sales!

Social media during election season? Yeah, it's a lot, right?

In this episode, I welcome a special guest, Antonia Semanskee, to share her expert insights on marketing your business on Instagram as a powerful tool for business growth. We dive deep into the importance of data-driven decisions and how they can shape a successful Instagram strategy for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses. We also highlight the key differences between posting as a business owner versus posting as an influencer. Guest IntroductionAntonia Semanskee is a business professor, entrepreneur, and Instagram analytics expert. She specializes in helping coaches and consultants enhance their online visibility using strategic, data-driven methods. With over 25 years of experience in startup business development, sales, marketing, & teaching, Antonia brings the best of data analysis, strategy, and practical knowledge to the art of social media marketing & PR for business results.Marketing Your Business on Instagram - Key TakeawaysContent Repurposing: Identify your high-performing posts using analytics and recreate them in different formats (e.g., carousel, reel) to maximize reach and engagement for your coaching business.Feed vs. Stories: When marketing your business on Instagram, keep your feed professional and business-focused, while Stories can be used to connect on a more personal level, helping you build authenticity with your coaching audience.Analytics First: Tracking key metrics through a spreadsheet is essential for understanding what resonates with your audience. Focus on metrics like saves, shares, comments, and profile visits to fine-tune your Instagram marketing strategy.The "Attorney Filter": Before posting personal content, run it through the "attorney filter" by asking, "Would I be comfortable if my attorney posted this?" It's a simple way to maintain professionalism and credibility as a transformational coach.Engagement in Stories: Use interactive content like “this or that” polls in Stories to engage with your audience and gain insights, a vital part of marketing your business on Instagram to potential coaching clients.Building Community: Engage daily with a core group of industry peers to build relationships and drive organic engagement on your posts. A supportive community is invaluable for marketing and scaling your coaching business on Instagram.Testing and Iteration: Experiment with different content, learn from failures, and refine your strategy. The key is to fail forward and use the data to improve your Instagram marketing efforts.Content Analysis and RepurposingWhat to Do Next: After tracking your posts' performance, identify the winners and repurpose them in new formats. For example, transform a successful infographic into a carousel post or a reel, keeping your content fresh and relevant to your Instagram marketing strategy.Tweaking: Try changing color schemes or slightly modifying headlines to appeal to different segments of your audience, allowing you to explore what works best for marketing your business on Instagram.Handling Viral ContentViral content is great for engaging your current community but doesn't always bring in new clients or convert into coaching leads.Use viral content sparingly, and manage your expectations regarding its business impact on marketing your business on Instagram.Daily Instagram EngagementBuild a core group of peers in your industry and engage with their content regularly to foster a community that supports your Instagram marketing strategy.Spend time commenting and starting conversations on their pages to cultivate authentic connections.Rotate through

#48: In this episode of the WorkPlay podcast, we have a round table discussion with Amber Lilyestrom, a business mentor, author, podcaster, and speaker with over 10 years of entrepreneurial experience, having built a multiple seven-figure business while focusing on helping women coaches and creatives scale their lives and businesses. Amber shares her journey as a business mentor and entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of creating meaningful relationships in marketing, the value of authentic visuals, and the balance of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways from the Episode: Relational Marketing: Understand the importance of building relationships and positive associations with your brand to enhance customer connections.Visual Storytelling: Learn how to create engaging visual experiences that resonate with your audience, making your brand more relatable and memorable.Mindset and Preparation: Discover the significance of mindset work and preparation rituals to ensure a successful and authentic photoshoot experience.DM US @workplaybranding on Instagram the word: 'PODCAST' to get visuals that actually generate leads using the WorkPlay Method. This episode is brought to you by WorkPlay Branding.WorkPlay Branding, a visual marketing company invested in changing the way you create content online for your business for less than $500 a month. We have been using the WorkPlay Method to launch visual marketing strategies for businesses all over North America and Europe. If you want to uplevel your visual marketing, we are giving listeners of the WorkPlay Podcast, an exclusive video $1,500 bonus offer on their first WorkPlay Shoot for FREE when you DM @workplaybranding the word: PODCAST

If you're a business owner, you have to be creating content to market your business online. But with ALL that's on your plate, how can you find the time? Listen to today's episode for my advice on how to eliminate & delegate in order to make more time in your day. SEE THE SHOW NOTES! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: EMAIL US! Have any questions or anything you'd love to see covered in an upcoming episode?! Send us an email at podcast@stephaniekase.com! We'd LOVE to hear your thoughts!! FREEBIES! Free Email Class - How to build a powerful email marketing plan to make income in your business: https://stephaniekase.com/emailclasspodcast Free Reels Class: Grow Your Business Reach with Reels (in just 3 hours every month): https://stephaniekase.com/reelsclasspodcast Free YouTube Class: Scale your business with YouTube in just 4 hours/week (no fancy tech required): https://stephaniekase.com/youtubeclasspodcast Free launch timeline: https://stephaniekase.com/timelinepodcast 10 free reels ideas: https://stephaniekase.com/ideaspodcast Instagram Audit Checklist: https://stephaniekase.com/checklistpodcast Free Sample Posting Schedule: https://stephaniekase.com/postingscheduleyt MY SHOP PRODUCTS! Reels Mini Course: https://stephaniekase.com/reelsminicourse Inbox to Income: https://stephaniekase.com/inboxtoincome YouTube for Business: https://stephaniekase.com/youtubeforbusiness Plug & Play Reels Ideas: https://stephaniekase.com/plugandplayreels Online Course Starter Kit: https://stephaniekase.com/onlinecoursestarterkit LET'S BE FRIENDS! Our Business Education Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephanielynnkase Join my free weekly newsletter: https://stephaniekase.com/community Website: http://www.stephaniekase.com Blog: http://www.stephaniekase.com/blog MY MUST-HAVE PROGRAMS! Manychat! Get started for free: https://stephaniekase.com/manychat Kajabi! 30 day free trial: https://stephaniekase.com/kajabi DISCLAIMER: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may make a small commission when you click the links and complete a purchase. I never recommend anything I don't truly love! :)

Marcia Macomber is an award-winning website designer, marketing strategist, author, speaker, and radio host. For over 25 years, she has led successful digital and print campaigns at her design and marketing studio. Since 2015, Marcia has hosted the Morning Show on KSVY Sonoma 91.3 FM, discussing topics from housing to personal wellness with global guests. As a strong advocate for women's rights, she co-founded Wine Women, a nonprofit for women in the wine industry, where she served as the founding Marketing Director and co-host of the Wine Women Radio Hour show and podcast.00:00 - 00:23 "If you want to create a website, get really well organized. You will save money. You want to know what your objectives are, your mission. Get very clear because then when you are shopping for a website designer, you will have a better sense of whether that designer is a good match to your mission.” — Marcia Macomber00:24 - 00:43 Welcome to Peppershock Media's Marketing Expedition Podcast00:44 - 02:10 Marcia's Bio02:11 - 16:55 Marketing Essentials Moment: Marketing Terms that You Need to Know Part 316:56 - 20:07 Welcome to the show, Marcia!20:08 - 24:23 Trends in Logo and Website Design24:24 - 29:08 Case Study: Improving Client's Website SEO29:09 - 30:54 AI Optimization30:55 - 33:43 Client Communication and Tools33:44 - 36:21 Importance of Website Security36:22 - 39:24 Challenges with Technology and Scams39:25 - 40:11 By spreading the word about The Pink Tax Rebate (no purchases necessary) we get up to a $20 credit to spend on Billie razors and body care. Let's do this! Visit: https://www.peppershock.com/product/billie-razors-offer40:12 - 45:58 Favorite Radio Show Interviews45:59 - 49:43 Marsha's Career Path and Marketing Journey49:44 - 55:20 Listening to Clients and Adapting Strategies55:21 - 57:06 Tune in to KSVY 91.3 FM Sonoma at ksvy.org. Reach out to Marcia at marcia@cornucopiacreations.com57:00 - 59:46 Ask the Experts!59:47 – 1:00:36 Thank you so much, Marcia! Share this podcast, give us a review, and enjoy your marketing journey! 1:00:37 – 1:01:23 Join themarketingexpedition.com today!#SEO #SearchEngineOptimization #DigitalMarketing #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #WebsiteDesign #GrowthStrategies #Keywords #ContentMarketing #VoiceSearchOptimization #InfluencerMarketing #MobileTraffic

In today's episode I talk you through the 3 big consequences of not showing up in your business.  Many new owners do this - they go half way but don't actually SHOW UP to build this dream of yours! READ MORE HERE

Branding photographers, if you're experiencing inconsistent inquiries, bookings, or revenue in your branding photography business, your content might be the missing link! In this episode, I'm breaking down tactical, actionable strategies to share strategic content that attracts high-end branding clients and keeps your calendar full!Plus, there are ONLY 3 spots left for my group coaching program, Marketing Mastery for Branding Photographers! This is your chance to build a proactive marketing strategy that will consistently book your dream clients and set you up for your most profitable year yet!We kick off on September 17th, so visit https://angiemcpherson.com/join to grab your spot before it's gone!Connect with me on Instagram:https://instagram.com/angiejanine

I've noticed a common thread among web designers who always seem to have no trouble getting clients - they're easily ‘referable'

Tune in to hear:How did Phil pivot from a financial advisor position to roles focused on marketing?Why is a clearly established marketing strategy so critical as a starting point and what does this look like, practically?How important is it to have an affinity for, or direct tie with, the niche client group you may serve (e.g. first responders or dentists)?What should be top of mind for content creators as they strive to stand out in a world inundated with content?What does the path look like from someone realizing they need an advisor to landing on your webpage and even filling out a contact form? What can be done to facilitate this process for would be clients?What can advisors do to have a better digital presence, aside from the obvious of having a well-crafted website?Why does Phil suggest advisors share knowledge freely on LinkedIn and elsewhere?Can marketing help with client retention for next gen and widowed clients?LinksPhil Bray on LinkedInThe Yardstick AgencyConnect with UsMeet Dr. Daniel CrosbyCheck Out All of Orion's PodcastsPower Your Growth with OrionCompliance Code: 1350-OAS-5/29/2024

The Myth of Social Media as an necessityA common misconception is that businesses must be active on social media to succeed. Robyn shared that many multi-million dollar businesses thrive without a robust social media presence, focusing instead on building a strong foundation. Building a solid foundation is invaluable to your business success.Building a Solid Foundation using SEO StrategiesA solid business foundation begins with a personal brand. By being distinct and clear about who you are and the results you can deliver, you set yourself up for sustainable business success.A business foundation needsan optimized websitean engaged email listUnlike what you post on social media platforms, you have complete control over these elements, which are up to the platform's discretion. Clarity and Client ConnectionWhen you want to attract your ideal or soulmate clients, you must be extremely clear on what you provide and who you are there to help. Robyn describes these as soulmate clients - clients with whom you share a deep and meaningful connection, leading to better results and long-term relationships. Unlike the superficial connections often formed on social media, soulmate clients are those who truly understand your value and are aligned with your mission.Authenticity and DifferentiationBeing on social media can often lead to comparison and even trying to mimic others' successful strategies. You must avoid mimicking others to be authentic and connect with your soulmate clients. Your authenticity will attract your soulmate clients and differentiate you from others in your field. It also helps eliminate the feelings of doubt and imposter syndrome that often come from comparing oneself to others on social media.Trust and Mutual RespectIn discussing client relationships, Robyn emphasized the significance of mutual trust and respect. It's not enough for clients to trust you; you must also trust them to take your advice and implement your strategies. This mutual respect fosters a collaborative environment where you and your clients can thrive.SEO Strategies: A Tip from RobynEnsure that you have a photograph of yourself on your homepage, on your About page, and sprinkled throughout your website. On those images, include alt text. Alt text is for nonsighted people to understand what is on an image, and it is search engine optimized. You can include your name, title, and whoever is in your niche. Add those keywords and key phrases for your images because that will help Google see who you are, what you do, and how you do it, and then show you to more people.About Robyn Dr. Robyn Graham is the founder and owner of Robyn Graham, LLC, and the creator of the Purpose to Results™- Success without Social Method. With an emphasis on mindset, strategy, and action, she helps small business owners and entrepreneurs, especially those in the health and wellness industry, health coaches, life coaches, and creatives, start and grow sustainable businesses and have a meaningful impact without being chained to social media.Read the full show notes

The Real Estate market is chock full of amazing personal stories. But it's not every day you meet someone whose father helped launch an entire segment of the industry! Specifically the Home Inspection Industry! But that's exactly who Kathleen Kuhn is, and what a conversation this was, talking all about the life and experiences of someone who began in the corporate sphere, only to leave it and eventually become an Executive for HouseMaster Home Inspections. And before we get into that, we open once more with Wise Words with Wally! Since we talk all about leadership development, what's the biggest lesson YOU have learned over the years? Sound off in the comments, and don't forget to like/subscribe!

Join us as we chat with Eric Hrubant from CIRE Travel for a practical discussion on the evolving role of travel agents in today's industry. Discover strategies for attracting both agents and influencers to your business, along with tips for curating exceptional travel experiences and standing out in the market. We'll debunk myths about influencers overshadowing traditional consultants, explore social media tactics, and offer insights on online reputation management. Plus, learn about the importance of building strong relationships and deep knowledge to enhance your travel services.

"Belonging to the Brand" sets forth Mark Schaefer's thinking about Innovative Marketing and Community Building. Let me introduce you to Mark Schaefer, who needs no introduction. With a career spanning decades, Mark has been a trailblazer, a thought leader, and a guide through the ever-shifting terrain of marketing and branding. From the dawn of social media to the rise of influencer marketing, Mark has not only witnessed these seismic shifts but has also been at the forefront, deciphering trends, and charting courses for success. But what sets Mark apart isn't just his keen insight into what's happening now—it's his uncanny ability to anticipate what's coming next. While others may struggle to keep pace with the rapid evolution of our industry, Mark has a knack for spotting emerging trends and technologies before they hit the mainstream. In this podcast, we will tap into that foresight, exploring what's happening today and what lies on the horizon. Megatrends Shaping the Future of Marketing A core theme we'll explore is bringing people together and building new communities and shared experiences. In an increasingly fragmented and polarized world, Mark understands the power of connection and is passionate about helping brands forge deeper, more meaningful relationships with their audiences. But this podcast isn't just about theory and speculation—it's about practical insights and actionable advice that you can apply to your own marketing efforts. So, whether you're a seasoned marketer looking to stay ahead of the curve or a newcomer eager to learn from the best, I invite you to join us on this journey through the ever-changing marketing and branding landscape. Together, we'll be navigating tomorrow—and shaping the future of our industry along the way. The Most Human Company Wins As we wrapped up our conversation, it became clear that despite the technological advancements, the core of marketing remains unchanged: the most human company wins. In a world where AI is becoming ubiquitous, maintaining a human-centric approach is what will set successful brands apart. To learn more about Innovative Marketing, we recommend these: Podcast: Are you Ready for the Marketing Rebellion by Mark Schaefer Podcast: Are You Ready for the Next Data-Driven-Digital Marketing Strategy? by Patrick Van Gorder Podcast: Fran Biderman-Gross—Feeling Frustrated With Business? Maybe It Is Time For A New Marketing Strategy?  

Are you spending more time than you'd like marketing your business? As entrepreneurs, it's easy to get caught up in learning the latest marketing strategies and lose sight of why we started our venture in the first place. But if your clients aren't re-signing or sending referrals your way, your marketing efforts are unsustainable.  Joanna Lindenbaum is CEO and Head Coach at the Applied Depth Institute, a transformational coaching program and certification that helps coaches and healers take their skills to the next level.  Joanna uses her 20 years of experience in human behavior, embodiment practices, and Archetype and Shadow to inform her work, helping students focus less on marketing and more on mastering their craft. On this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, Joanna joins Anjel to share her personal healing journey and explain what inspired her to teach others how to love and accept all the parts of ourselves. Joanna discusses her transition from museum curator to transformational coach and describes the light bulb moment she realized she was equipped to help other coaches skill up. Listen in for Joanna's insight on balancing marketing with quality delivery and learn how to produce a superior product that leads to referrals and repeat customers.  What You Will Learn How waking up with Bell's palsy in her 20s inspired Joanna's current work What called Joanna to teach others how to love and accept ALL the parts of ourselves The challenge Joanna faced in owning her desire for power Why it's important to get in touch with the shadow parts of ourselves Joanna's journey from museum curator to transformational coach Why entrepreneurs must be willing to embrace the mystery and be in discomfort The lightbulb moment Joanna realized she was equipped to help other coaches skill up How your marketing is done for you when you perform incredible work What it looks like to balance marketing with quality delivery How fear and resistance are natural parts of the process of growth Connect with Joanna Lindenbaum Applied Depth Institute  Resources  Joanna's PDF -- Coach Your Clients to Overcome Resistance & Reach More Goals Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell  Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic The Wealthy Life Mentor The Wealthy Life Mentor on Facebook Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com  

Alison Magill is the founder of 'The Well Cultivated Life' an online herbal education site that teaches people how to become self-reliant when it comes to their own health, stop giving too much to others and bring them back to balance so they can start saying yes to themselves first!Here's where to find more:Web: thewellcultivatedlife.comSocial: @cultivatemylife___________________________________________________________Welcome to The Unforget Yourself Show where we use the power of woo and the proof of science to help you identify your blind spots, and get over your own bullshit so that you can do the fucking thing you ACTUALLY want to do!We're Mark and Katie, the founders of Unforget Yourself and the creators of the Unforget Yourself System and on this podcast, we're here to share REAL conversations about what goes on inside the heart and minds of those brave and crazy enough to start their own business. From the accidental entrepreneur to the laser-focused CEO, we find out how they got to where they are today, not by hearing the go-to story of their success, but talking about how we all have our own BS to deal with and it's through facing ourselves that we find a way to do the fucking thing.Along the way, we hope to show you that YOU are the most important asset in your business (and your life - duh!). Being a business owner is tough! With vulnerability and humor, we get to the real story behind their success and show you that you're not alone._____________________Find all our links to all the things like the socials, how to work with us and how to apply to be on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/unforgetyourself

In this episode, we dive into the dynamic world of marketing, offering essential strategies tailored for businesses at every stage of growth. Whether you're launching a startup, refining an existing brand, or seeking to enhance your online presence, this episode is packed with actionable insights to propel you forward. From preliminary rollout tactics to post-launch optimization techniques, we guide you through each phase of the marketing journey, uncovering effective tools and systems to streamline your efforts. Join us as we explore the four-step process of preliminary rollout, pre-launch, launch, and post-launch optimization, empowering you to cultivate anticipation, engage your audience, and achieve sustainable success. Tune in now to discover how to leverage the power of marketing to elevate your business to new heights. -- Time Stamps: -- 00:00 - Intro  01:07 - Launching or Relaunching Your Business 02:44 - The Four Step Process for Launching Your Business 03:58 - The Preliminary Roll Out Before Your Pre-Launch  05:42 - Coming Up With Your Freebie & Building Your Funnel  06:09 - Building Your Email List  10:37 - Utilizing Chat GPT for Marketing Your Business  13:58 - How to Build Anticipation For Your Offering Prior To Pre-Launch 17:36 - Planning Out Your Pre-Launch 19:34 - Steps to Take During Your Business Pre-Launch | Sub Phases of Your Pre-Launch        -- ☑️ Follow:  Help support our show, & get a healthy hit of dopamine by hitting that follow button to stay updated on our weekly episodes.

Ready to level up your marketing game and reclaim your time?  I'm all about finding the right tools to help you work smarter, not harder. Because let's be honest, time is money, and who doesn't want more of both? Get ready to dive into my top picks for streamlining your business and boosting results. Here are links mentioned for the tools (note some of these are affiliate links and if you make a purchase, I may make a commission): https://www.addevent.com/ https://edits.aftershoot.com/?referral=h5lv013&refSource=copy https://app.asana.com/https://desk.bigvu.tv/ref/offers?fpr=jen-vazquez23 http://partner.canva.com/jenvazquez https://openai.com/blog/chatgpthttps://www.descript.com/?lmref=KFOdqw https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/AADtdxKrr7kbXO4ykqENynTcA3EZE3kjars?src=global9 https://elevaevisuals.com/?ref=jen-3741 https://evmux.com/?fpr=jen39 https://fathom.video/invite/YukEBQ https://www.fgfunnels.com/backdoor?fpr=jenvazquez https://gemini.google.com/app https://workspace.google.com/ https://jenvazquezcoach.com/instacart https://www.lastpass.com/https://paykstrt.com/29582/123336 (Use code PIN20 at checkout for $20 off) https://slack.com/ https://stripe.com/ https://jenvazquezcoach.com/tailwind https://web.voxer.com/u/jenvazquez Pinterest Spring Refresh Challenge - Sign up FREE https://thepinterestqueen.com/challenge

Let me tell you about my insightful guest today - Robert Brill, CEO of Brill Media, an award-winning media buying agency specializing in precision advertising. With over 20 years of experience, Robert is not only a Forbes Business Council member but also provides marketing insights to other major publications. In our casual conversation, Robert shares key takeaways for small business owners on effectively growing through marketing. He emphasizes having the right messaging before spending money to amplify reach. We discuss how to achieve product-market fit by understanding target audience problems. Robert also advises on major advertising platforms like Google, Meta, LinkedIn, and TikTok. He explains how brand awareness campaigns, while not directly sales-driven, increase conversion rates long-term. Overall, Robert provides a wealth of practical tips for entrepreneurs to make better marketing decisions. I encourage you to listen to Robert's expertise in precision advertising and their success in growing a media agency. Let me know your key takeaways in the comments!   #SmallBusinessMarketing  #EntrepreneurialMarketing #BusinessGrowthStrategies  #MarketingTips  #AdvertisingInsights  #DataDrivenMarketing  #BrandBuilding  #DigitalMarketing101 #MarketingAgencyTips #CustomerCentricAdvertising Key Moments   00:00:03 - Introduction to Robert Brill   00:01:06 - Becoming an Entrepreneur   00:02:47 - Key Insights for Business Growth   00:06:49 - Product Market Fit   00:13:07 - Advertising Platforms   00:14:22 - Understanding Consumer Data and Advertising Platforms   00:17:27 - Platform Recommendations for Advertising   00:19:57 - Building Brand Awareness and Sales   00:21:22 - Utilizing TikTok for Marketing   00:23:49 - Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses   00:28:23 - Importance of Finding the Right Agency   00:29:43 - Role of an Agency   00:32:21 - Offer and Contact Information   00:33:58 - Marketing vs. Advertising  Support the showResources: https://affordablebookkeepingandpayroll.com/resource-opt-in Become a supported of the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1522381/support

Hear how to answer the question: Why should your customers care? I always say, in my coaching or our leadership academies or my workshops, the more ideas you have, the more likely you will have big ones. And they come at the intersections. Big ideas are actually already in your head waiting for those a-ha moments where you might say, Wow, I'm onto something. My podcast guest today can help you do just that. Fran Biderman-Gross is going to help you see yourself through a fresh lens, feel differently about what you're doing and why, and think about how to make some changes. We know that change is painful and we don't always like it, but often it's necessary to get where we want to go. Listen, learn, and share. Watch and listen to our conversation here Key takeaways from today: Buyers are informed. They have access to information in record speed and record time. Informed buyers need a reason to believe. Then you must make the emotional connection to why your product matters to them. Today, purchases have to be meaningful. People crave emotional connection. It is no different with services and products. Consumers are demanding it. They are voting with their dollars and demanding it. Why is the world a better place with what you are offering your customers? You fundamentally must understand who your customers are and what they want, what matters to them. How to connect with Fran You can reach out to Fran on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and her website Advantages.net. You can also email her at getnoticed@advantages.net. and check out her book: How to Lead a Values-Based Professional Services Firm: 3 Keys to Unlock Purpose and Profit Want a deeper dive into how to market for success? We recommend these as a starting point:  Mark Schaefer—Are You Ready For The Marketing Rebellion? Patrick Van Gorder—Ready For The Right Data-Driven Digital Marketing Strategy To Expand Your Business? Melissa Copeland—Want Your Business To Be Successful? Start With A Great Customer Experience Aviva Ajmera—First Get That Great Strategy. Then Tackle How To Get It Done! Additional resources for you My two award-winning books: Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business and On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights Our new book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success, co-authored by Edie Fraser, Robyn Freedman Spizman and Andi Simon, PhD Our website: Simon Associates Management Consultants Read the transcript of our podcast here  Andi Simon: Welcome to On the Brink With Andi Simon. Hi, I'm Andi Simon. I'm your podcast host, and as you know, my job is to help you see, feel and think in new ways. I go looking for interesting people who are going to help me do that. Today is a day when we're all on the brink. We don't know if we're going to soar or fall, but the ladder is there for us to climb. But sometimes we need new ideas. We need to fill our head. Remember, the more ideas you have, the more likely you will have big ones. And they come at the intersections. So as you listen to our podcast, things are going to come your way and you're going to say, That's a big idea. It's actually sitting in your head waiting for it to happen, but I'm happy to share. So I have a wonderful woman here today to help you do just that. She's going to help you see yourself through a fresh lens, feel differently about what you're doing and why, and think about how to make some changes because change is painful and we don't always like it. Fran Biderman-Gross is our guest today. A little bit about Fran. She is here smiling at you, and she is going to smile through her whole time together because she is just a very happy, wonderful woman with lots to share with you. Fran Biderman-Gross is the founder and CEO of Advantages, an award winning branding and marketing agency and among The Fortune 500 Best Places for Entrepreneurs. I'm going to let her tell you exactly what that is. The Advantages team leads clients on a journey of brand discovery that reveals personal and organizational purpose, values, and story. And Fran is just full of ideas for us today. She also is a podcast host for Drive Profit with Purpose, where she speaks with business leaders about the importance of purpose. And, you know, purpose-driven organizations are doing better than those without a purpose. And she's co-author of How to Lead a Values-Based Professional Services Firm: 3 Keys to Unlock Purpose and Profit, which I have a hunch is hers and could be yours. So this is a book focused on the leverage of three keys of purpose, values, and story so that you can grow and scale profitably and make a difference. Fran, thank you for joining me today. Fran Biderman-Gross: Thank you for having me today. What a meaningful intro. What a great way to set up somebody's mindset in how they should receive every single episode. I'm very grateful to be here. Thank you. Andi Simon: Well, and we are as well because your ideas are fresh. And I haven't had anyone who's a marketing maven in a long time and there's a push now to rethink what we do in the world of communications, storytelling, marketing, whatever those words now mean in a world where it's not a newspaper ad or even what do you do with a press release? It's really sort of like, what are we doing? But tell the listener about who is Fran. Let's really set the stage around your own journey because it sets the context for what you're doing and how you're helping your clients and your staff. Please, Fran. Fran Biderman-Gross: So what can I tell you that's interesting about Fran? I'm a very curious, purposeful, intentional, resourceful human who really loves people. I say that because it's true. While I can be labeled an eternal optimist, just ask my team, I'm always looking for the good in everything. Innately, I really appreciate when others are in that spotlight moment and they're shining, or they set a goal and they accomplish it. I'm really there with them, enjoying not only the journey, but reveling in the success of whatever that is. And while that might seem broad, I've definitely chosen my path in helping others really stand out and understand how they build emotional connections with the people who give them the most fulfillment. So, getting clear on what I call the three keys: your purpose, your values, and your story and the way that you tell it, and there's just so much that's so complicated when we talk about branding and marketing that I just wanted to make it simple but not easy. So it's simple to understand that the concept of a minimum viable brand is very much based on what you believe in, why you exist in the world, and how you bring that to the organization you lead. And if we could just get clear on that, it's simple, just not easy to articulate. It sets such a strong foundation for everything that you're going to do. So in terms of me, I'm just on this journey to help as many people as I can, which is really why the book came about. And, you know, I have a limited, finite amount of time and hours that I could teach a workshop, teach or speak or work with clients. So the book and the podcast are an extension of me having those great conversations so that people can further think about what their purpose, value, and story are, what their three keys are, and how to have tips and tricks to apply it to unravel this mystery of marketing. And what is branding and why is it important? And all of those complicated questions. Andi Simon: The question: you didn't just jump in and know those things. Were there some catalytic moments that took what you were doing and gave it in moments? Well, when you go whoosh and you go, that's what it's about. Is there something you might be able to share? Fran Biderman-Gross: I think there's a couple of light bulb moments, if you will. I think the first time I met Simon Sinek was back in 2004, when he had just discovered the Golden Circle, maybe it was 2003. He had spoken to the entrepreneurs' organization we were at, a little marketing gathering, talking to strategists, colleagues, if you will. And I was really intrigued. And they had asked us to bring some of our best design work, and I did, and I got there early and I placed it on the corner of the table. I was hoping I would stand out and get his attention. Everybody always likes to be called out by the teacher and given some accolades. Who would ever not want that? And I placed this incredibly, very proud, designed piece of collateral on the corner of the table. And wouldn't you know, it caught his eye and he lifted it up in the middle of his chat and he said, This is beautifully designed and it's great quality, and it looks like everybody else and it sounds like everybody else. And I'm like, how do I leave? You just embarrassed me in front of about 80 to 100 people. I'm like the Marketing Maven in there. I'm like the printing princess, the girl who gets everybody noticed. And my stuff is like everybody else, does he know me? So at first I was embarrassed and sunk in my chair. I literally sunk in my chair and I wanted to leave, but I resisted that urge. It desperately took every ounce of fight in me to do that. I waited in line to kind of really unpack what he meant, because I really needed to get over myself and try to learn from something. And then he just set me off on a path of, this is beautifully designed, but how does it speak to me and how does it create a connection versus what you're selling and what you're advertising on this piece? And how do I actually use it as a tool to build, to create, to activate curiosity or to spark a connection in that way? And that set off a very deep relationship for a very long time, although I dug my heels in and didn't want to join.  But I really wanted to further develop the concept of understanding how we start with Why. Hence we got the three keys, which became the technique and the approach that we approach every person, whether you're a solopreneur, to do personal branding and take that into an organization. And how do I work in an M&A structure and how do I bring people together and how do I help serial entrepreneurs own multiple businesses because they really have one vision in multiple missions. And how does that stack, how do they shift their story point, as I would describe it, to serve them, whether they're in front of you VC raising money or fundraising in a nonprofit or looking for more customers to get into the funnel or further down the funnel. And it has really become evident that many may not disagree and many, I hope, don't. I don't know what I just said, but I hope they don't disagree. And I'm happy to welcome the conversations if they do. But people innately develop relationships with people they like, they trust, and have a connection with somewhere, and they feel it. And that's a biological thing. And how do we resolve that? And that has really been my quest: to resolve how your brain thinks but can't speak, and help you give it the word so it validates the feeling. And to me, that's marketing and branding all in one. And that's the job I have to do so that we build relationships with different nonprofits, with our donors, with our volunteers, with the people we serve from professional services or products and goods. So the level of the cost of the sale might influence if it's a bigger ticket. We have to think more. If it's a smaller ticket, we think less. But we build relationships with brands who stand for something that somehow are relatable to us. And even if we don't stop to think about it, when you do, you'll realize that you're developing a fan, a brand fan, as I would say, or an advocate for certain brands because of not only the product, but why they exist in the world where it is sometimes a little hard to find that connection. Andi Simon: It is interesting as I work with organizations, so we're corporate anthropologists, as I often share a little bit during our podcast, and we specialize in helping organizations change. Sometimes they want to and sometimes they hate to because the brain hates to change. It has an idea and a story in it, and that story is your illusion of everyday life. And you get up every day and you live that story whether it's true or not. There's no truth. What's interesting in what you're saying is that you then also surround yourself with things. And those things are a reflection of that illusionary story about who you are. You're always the hero in your story. You're always successful in the story. The problem is, there are always others outside of you, and whether it's you alone, or you as part of a club or a group, humans are herd animals and we like to belong. So with humans, you've got this wonderful opportunity to help them feel better, make their story stronger, especially in times that are fast changing. I don't know how many people have said, “I'll never use AI.” I said, “Well, it's already all over you, you know? You can't do anything without it.” “Quite frankly, I'll never use ChatGPT.” I love ChatGPT, but why do you deny the future? Because it is all around you. It's just not widely distributed yet. And that's asking people to help us rethink the work we're doing with our products and services. And I'm going to let you talk a little bit about how you now help companies and their products and services to rethink their purpose, maybe to retain their values and also to begin to think about that story and storytelling when the world that they're talking to is so fragmented. There are 250 million people with 250 million stories and channels to articulate on. And I don't know whether TikTok is good or not, but as my book came out, somebody I knew said, are you going to be on TikTok? There are as many people creating on TikTok as there are watching it. The world is wild, my friend. How do you help them go through the changes? Maybe there's a case study you can share, or if not, just help the audience think through the new because it's ready, willing and able to help you transform what you're doing for a new world. Your thoughts? Fran Biderman-Gross: So that is a jam-packed question. Andi Simon: Deliberately, I know. Fran Biderman-Gross: And a good one. The way that I'm going to begin to shape that answer is that in 2024, what you knew before doesn't really apply. But here's a lesson that I can say. Well, first let me explain what I mean. Buyers are informed. They have access to information in record speed and record time that we cannot argue, arguably the fastest, and will continue to get faster as we choose how we consume our media or our information. So I'm just going to use information for now, because there's a lot of things that we want to know on a daily basis, starting with the weather and the top news and what's going on with our clients. And we want bytes of information. So the buyers are informed. They have access to data and facts with a click of an Enter button. You ask a question and you will get an answer. Might not be accurate, but that doesn't matter. We won't debate that, but they have access to information, so there's no more dog and pony show. The dog and pony show is, Here I am. I can't beat my chest and go, “I'm louder and better stand out.” It has to be authentically who you are and why you exist. Why? Because in the last 15 years, I've had the honor of working and taking over my co-author's lifelong work that we had started working on together. I have literally proven that people are the complete reason why businesses who merge succeed. I digress back to the question. Informed buyers need a reason to believe. They need to make them. When they have that reason to believe, they then must make the emotional connection to why it matters to them. This is a fundamental change in the way that we communicate and are raising our children to communicate. It has to be meaningful. We used to talk about buying stuff, and I'll use this as a little bit of a team and family, you know, share. We used to buy things for each other and now we've learned, come the holidays and birthdays and celebratory days, it's not the stuff, it's the time and experience. They want to share things. They want to create memories to do things. Matter of fact, just before this, you were talking about the two weeks that you and your family secretly at the end of June get together. People crave emotional connection. It is no different with services and products. That's right. And they are demanding it. They are voting with their dollars and demanding it. So who's telling a better story? But it's not the better story, it's the meaningful story. How you uncover why you do what you do, why the world is a better place with your organization, is vital to communicate, to be able to attract the buyer the way the buyers buy. They demand to make an emotional connection even if they don't say it. They vote with their dollars. And if you really got into a focus group with them and trust me, we have done many, many of these, especially in the last couple of years, you really get the insights of the culmination of data that I'm telling you. People are buying emotionally, they are emotionally triggered. And the brands who are acting out and taking a stand… You've seen them. You've seen these examples. You've seen it with Nike. You have seen it with Ben and Jerry's, with our ice cream. And you have seen these organizations take a stand and you've seen good PR and bad PR and you've seen outrage and you've seen validation because there's something for everyone. There isn't just one thing for everyone. So how do you, audience members or listener, differentiate yourself in that way? Simple. Not easy. But here's the one thing that I can tell. You can't skip a step. Because when you skip a step, it doesn't work. We have learned time and time again, with client after client, when we rush through building a foundational brand. I'll just leave it as, when we skip the foundational steps, we miss something. We miss the opportunity to connect with the buyer. We miss the opportunity to understand the buyer. We miss the opportunity to understand where the buyer is, what the buyer is searching for. So we talk about marketing and attracting these things. But at the same time, let's put that all aside. We need to understand who you are and what they want, what matters to them. If you build your journey and you skip a step and you're missing information, it is just another reason for them to leave the funnel and not to go further. You know, I personally would rather attract, let's just say I was looking for an applicant. I had a new job position. I personally would much prefer, matter of fact, this was another moment. It's funny where my mind went here. I was at a networking event and it was all about recruitment and retention. This was a big hot button. How do we do that? Well, they opened this roundtable discussion and they're like, oh, well, our advertisement attracted 85 qualified people. But we got like 300 resumes. And when it got to my turn, I said, Who has time to look at 85 resumes? I'm hoping that only 12 people apply so that I can get further, deeper down into whether you are a good fit. Are you in the right place in your life, career, journey to be in this company, in this position, in this culture? Will you affect positive change? And that spun the conversation in a completely different way. Wait a minute, how do you just get 12 applicants? Then I went through the, Hey, it's dating. I'm not trying to sell you who we are, I'm actually trying to figure out who you are. And are you at the right stage with the right skills and the balance to fit this nucleus of an agency, of a family that we are. And are you the right fit? We can always train for skill, but at the same time, they need certain levels of skills, sometimes more advanced skills. And we just got into a whole discussion of, This is broken: writing an advertisement to sell your position is broken. And you know what? You're seeing it. Look what's going on with talent in the last three years. I mean, in my industry, the senior talent is either being laid off or exiting because they choose not to have a life like that anymore. They want remote work. They want freedom and flexibility. They want to affect positive change, not the way we did before. Work has changed, buyers have changed. Recruiting has changed. Is it a good fit? Are you at the right place in your career for this juncture? And it's just unbelievable. Andi Simon: I didn't mean to interrupt you. I want to follow your thoughts. As our listeners are thinking about their own, both their own journeys as well as those of their business and the products they're selling, I'd like to create a metaphor here, because what you're saying is that the people who work inside and the people who are our clients and their clients are really in a system, an ecosystem, and your staff can only do good jobs if the folks who you're working with align with the basic three value, you know, purpose, values, and story approach you have. But their clients have to be in alignment as well. So there's a long alignment thought, a visual, in my head. They often say that the words we use create the worlds that we live in. Humans are meaning makers. And so you're sharing with the audience the meaning that you give to both work and to the work you do in a very interesting and important way. It's not a job; you're part of this whole process that's aligning with the folks who we serve, to align with their folks. The thing that I'd like you to reflect on a little bit is, how do your clients get to know their clients better, whether it's a customer, if it's B2B, how do they serve them better? I've done enough focus groups in my life to never really want to do another one, but I'm an anthropologist and I love to observe and hang out and say, what do you do? My job is to listen to the conversations without judging them, and also without asking the people who are conversing, What does this really mean without listening to the stories they tell? Storytelling is actually the very best way to capture the reality that they're living. But how do you help your clients and your team better understand this changing world of buyers out there, and the channels with which they find solutions to whatever that problem is? Is that too big a question again, or is that something. Fran Biderman-Gross: It actually isn't. I start with, you can't skip a step. Everybody has the courage to take a step back and look at the journey. It starts with insight because ultimately, what matters to our clients is that we understand their clients. Agreed? Andi Simon: Agreed. Fran Biderman-Gross: Great. So I've got two sets of clients I'm serving. I can't serve one without the other. And in almost every case, almost every case, when clients come to us, they think they understand their clients. And we go through a process. To get to the right. I'm not saying they're wrong. I'm just saying we don't have the data to understand whether that is proof positive or reactive. That points me on the right journey when I think about the age old questions of, how do I hire an agency? Why do I need an agency? I start with helping me understand your business and where is it going? Because you're clear, your business objective dictates the marketing strategy and then resulting in the tactics we take. So when you think about what that is, I can't skip the brand component because it starts with who are you? What do you stand for? Why do you exist? How is the world with a better place with you in it? And at the other end of that is, why should my customers care? Give me a reason to believe or I go somewhere else.  And there's a lot of space between my hands right now. And if I had a bigger screen, I would give you more space. But you have to really not skip a step. So you have to get clear here. First, phase one: discovery, understanding your position and all the things I just listed. We could talk about the three keys. That is what I call the minimum viable brand. I like MVP things. Products and brands. So I've taken that and said, how can we make this affordable because everybody listening is going oh, redoing a brand. It takes six months and tons of money and six figures and I'm like, no it doesn't. No it doesn't. It doesn't. We've created a process inside of about 10 to 12 weeks, maybe slightly longer depending on scheduling. We can rectify this. We don't necessarily have to just create a gap analysis. We can actually create the analysis and fix things. So we actually have an actionable place to start. So in that discovery, of course, we're going to do all the things that you think about, right? The competitive analysis is aspirational, actually. What do my customers really want? What do I stand for? That gives me insights into what I call a brand foundation with your MVP. And the way I describe it is, like your brand is built on two layers. First the verbal, we get the verbal right? We can go to the visual and we can create translation so that the brain understands that there is a connection between them, the visual and the verbal. And then we put a good layer in there called a brand idea. What's the big idea or the zip code as we call it? What does that mean? That's how I begin to make a connection and start to put that in the world. And we go to unlock the second phase, usually three, sometimes four months, could be six if we need more data. It's always about data. Take about a couple of weeks to get whatever the campaign is up and running in real time. I don't have to do massive, big focus groups that take a long time anymore. I can just literally go into the market and start to see how people react to messaging. Andi Simon: That's true. Fran Biderman-Gross: In fact, I can even add a step. And do you know, I could probably spend three weeks doing message testing, literally message testing. If you are this type of demographic, how do you react to these things? And we can learn before we actually go to market. So three months is not a long time when you think of the longevity of your organization. Don't you want to get an audience message, audience message fit? Then you've got a strong brand that people are reacting to that have the criteria of your clients or like your clients. So then when you go into the market, you can begin to go, oh, can I talk to you, to my funnel? Can I direct you to my funnel? How do we nurture you? Where do sales come in? Everybody gets on the phone and goes, could you take over my LinkedIn? I need to get sales there. Could you help me explore TikTok because that's where I could sell direct now. And that's not the answer. The answer is, let's help me understand your business. The tactical solution has to be a result of a strategic decision that will then add value to the business. Andi Simon: You know, I always watch our time because a half hour or so is good for our listeners, but I don't want to cut us off yet. I have a couple of things to add to your wonderful understanding of how to build a business in this modern world that we're in. We were HubSpot partners for a number of years, and we really do love inbound marketing, and inbound marketing makes the assumption that it is less about what you're pushing out and a lot about what people are searching for. Google has created a whole new marketplace, and it isn't putting it on a shelf in a store. It's more, what are the words you're using to find a solution to something, to a problem. We come up on the first page of Google, thank you very much, because of the content marketing of a corporate anthropologist, a Blue Ocean Strategy expert. I can't compete with the book, but I can be an expert. I can do culture change in New York. I can do all kinds of words that get people to come and hire us, or at least find us and want to know more about us. That is a very neat way of understanding that. But it's going to go even faster and farther because the content is going to have to be relevant and change. And it isn't the channel of LinkedIn or Facebook or the website. I still like the website, I like the others, but I really love what search can do for you., but it means that we have to go backwards, outside in, instead of just inside out. Your thoughts, Fran. Fran Biderman-Gross: You need data to do that, right? The proof is in the data because design is always subjective. And what has happened today, again my opinion, people can disagree. Andi Simon: I agree, but they can disagree. Fran Biderman-Gross: Yeah, agencies are so fragmented and specialized that if you know you are searching for just a Google AdWords specialist, you should hire them. But what are you giving them to work on? Is that proven in a data point? Otherwise you are chasing an unproven theory. Andi Simon: Yeah. Fran Biderman-Gross: And yes, I caution the audience, listeners out there who have several different agencies who are employed right now and probably doing great work. The question is, is it the best work? Is it the work that actually is strategically tied to adding value to the company? I feel like I spend a lot of time talking about this because many don't realize how much is buried in a marketing budget that's actually allocated across a channel. That shouldn't necessarily be. And some things should be. So like, right-sizing all of that and then trying to understand the return on investment. I think this is really the bug for me. When you look at very large agencies and very large companies, they have spreadsheet after spreadsheet and depth and depth and depth. They understand their acquisition costs, their lead generation costs. They understand all of these things. And it's a behemoth of effort to put together, to be able to actually get that. But I really believe that small- to medium-sized companies deserve to do marketing right. And that's the agency model that I have brought to this market for those who understand and want to do strategic marketing. I have an all-in-one solution. So there's no finger pointing. We didn't get the return. Why? Oh, the odd word guy. Oh the content person. Oh, this. Oh, that. It's not that. We have to put it all together under the umbrella and under that you start with the business objective, the marketing strategic plan with the tactical execution. If that execution on that budget doesn't add value, you shouldn't do it, myself included. You shouldn't do it. Hope I answered the question. I got off on a tangent, but there's so much wrong with things today. And we think, as business owners, myself included, we think we're experts at everything and we're not. Everything is so much more confusing these days. Andi Simon: But let's pause because I would rather us pause here, perhaps have you come back in a short time and take the conversation to the next stage, because I think that the times are fast changing. I was reading about Lenovo putting AI into their PCs to better know you, so that they can manage your virtual assistant and know when your calendar is. It would say, “Good morning, it's time for you to get up, and these are the three things you're going to do today.” Oh my goodness. I do think, though, that the listeners as well as us who are in the industry of helping, you're helping companies develop their business, build them, build your staff, so they have purpose. It is not inconsequential. It is very meaningful. And humans are meaning makers. We decide with our eyes and our heart, not our head. The head sort of justifies it. When you understand the human being, then all of what Fran has been saying today takes on a, What do you do with it? You know, I get it. I understand humans. Now, what do I do to build a business that will thrive in fast changing times? And I'll tell you, it's a good time to pause, step back and think about that question. What is it you are doing? Is it more of the same? Maybe cheaper? Are you beginning to really understand the data about your clients and your customers and where they're going? I find this all the time that my first book, On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights, about which this podcast was named, was about seven of our clients who had gotten stuck or stalled, and they didn't see what was right in front of them. And I must tell you, whether it's a focus group or it's an anthropologist, it's a mindset on the client side to say, oh, that's what you're seeing. Because if they don't see it, it has no meaning at all. I can't tell you how many times I bring back what I saw. And they say, well, that's not true. I said, okay, come look with me. And then they go and they hang out and they listen and they say, oh, that's what you heard. I said, yes, but that's what they're saying. And so it's a time to rethink how you think about your business and how you're running it. And Fran is giving you some really good insights today. Why don't you tell a little bit more about the Advantages company so that we don't leave the audience thinking, oh, how do I find her? And what do I do if I need her? Tell me about your company. Fran Biderman-Gross: Absolutely. I'd be happy to: Advantages.net is how you can find us. I'll throw that into the chat. And we are a purpose-driven agency that does marketing so that you can focus on the things that you are meant to focus on. What does that mean? It means that we're an agency, a strategic-driven agency that has all the capability or a hybrid of capability to work with the vendors. You have to ensure that we bring value to the budget that is spent, so that is meaningful to the business. Now, technically we're strategists. We're designers or writers. We're directors. And everything in between. So that what you see on the inside matches what you see on the outside. Andi Simon: But your purpose is how to assemble those tactical and practical things into a strategy to help our clients. These are the same words that we use: see, feel and think in new ways so they can grow. And I think it is very exciting to share what you do and how you do it, because it is a way of lifting us up off the brink. If you want to soar, then maybe you need to rethink the way you're telling your story, even what it is, and how you're beginning to push it out. So let's wrap up. Fran's information will be, of course, on the podcast blog that we put on SimonAssociates.net. You can find it there and we push it out when it comes out. But it's been an absolute pleasure to have an opportunity to share with you what Fran Biderman-Gross does and what advantages her company can offer if you're thinking about how to rethink your own company and where it's going and how to get there. I'm going to wrap with a little push on my new book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success. It's a great book. It's got 500+ wisdoms of 102 women, each of whom wants to elevate and celebrate women in business. And what's so exciting about it is that people turn a page and change their lives. And I know that sounds interesting, but we actually had a woman write about it on LinkedIn: “I was starting 2024 and I was reading the book, and it inspired me to rethink my year.” And I had a client who was a wonderful client, and she had yellow marked the whole book, and she said, “Wow, I'm going to change the way I'm running my business.” How can a book do that? Simple and easy. It's a wonderful way to do it. You can find Women Mean Business on Amazon or Barnes and Noble or your local bookseller. And don't forget to look at the website WomenMeanBusinessBook.Com to tell you more about the authors, the origin of the book, the 500 wisdoms, and the 102 wonderful people inside. So thank you, Fran, for being with us today. It's been a pleasure. Thank you, all of you who come and send us great ideas and bring us wonderful people to share and share the website and the podcast so we can all share our wisdom. We love to help others grow. Bye bye now. Have a wonderful day. Remember my wisdom: Take your observations, turn them into innovations, and boy what you can see. Bye bye now.     WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS® is a registered trademark of the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO)

Spoiler alert! Marketing your business on Instagram gets to be simple! Showing up and selling your offers on Instagram gets to be easy, effective and dare I say it - ENJOYABLE! Join me as I have a value-packed conversation with Jen from Waves & Willows, an expert social media manager and coach as we delve into what it really takes to make it on the gram! In this heartfelt journey into the world of Instagram with social media guru Jen Windsor of Waves and Willows, we dive deep into the art of authentic connection, discussing how to craft an Instagram presence and how this authenticity can magnetically attract the right audience for your brand.  Learn the art of letting your true self be the cornerstone of your content, because let's face it—people can smell inauthenticity a mile away, and nothing builds a community like genuine interaction.  In this episode, you're going to learn: Authenticity and being a real-imperfect-messy human on social media can lead to finding your Instagram joy and fulfillment, and SUCCESS… AKA actual money-making results!  Why clear communication about your offers is key, and not hiding the “selling bit” so deep in your content that no one sees it  Surrendering to life's natural flow and not getting caught up in the pressure to constantly need show up  How sharing simple, everyday moments can be powerful and more than enough to drive those income goal achievements  Don't get caught up in the overly automated and impersonal sales trap!  A personal touch can go a long way.   Learn more about Jen Windsor:  Website: https://www.wavesandwillows.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waves_and_willows/   Learn more about Suzy and Mothers of Enterprise Podcast:   Have you heard about my shiny new Time + Money Booster calls? If you'd love some coaching to help you work less and earn more (my speciality) and finally have some clarity on where your precious energy needs to be in your business, then get your beautiful self booked in right here (did I mention they're completely free??)...

In this episode, ByrdAdatto's Brand Marketing Manager Stephanie Torres shares strategies for marketing a business. Stephanie delves into the significance of understanding your target audience, timing for securing domain and social media accounts, various types of marketing availale for new businesses, and essential brand strategies. Tune in for valuable tips for starting and growing your business.Watch full episodes of our podcast on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@byrdadattoVisit our website http://www.byrdadatto.com/ to learn more about ByrdAdatto and to subscribe to the newsletter. Follow us on social media to get the latest business and health care legal updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and more: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByrdAdatto/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byrdadattolaw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/byrdadattoX: https://twitter.com/ByrdAdatto

In this episode, Sarah and Dawn talk about what makes marketing feel so daunting, how common it is for entrepreneurs to avoid it, and why it creates so much tension for business owners across all industries.If you're ready to unlock the next level in your business but you absolutely dread marketing, this episode is for you.Join us for another awesome episode of the MB.P Podcast.TAKE THE 6-FIGURE BLIND SPOT QUIZ TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE PRIVATE PODCASThttps://mobilebevpros.com/the-6-figure-blind-spot-assessment/APPLY TO JOIN THE GROUP COACHING PROGRAMhttps://mobilebevpros.com/coaching/JOIN THE MOBILE BAR ACADEMYhttps://mobilebevpros.com/join-mobile-bar-academy/CHECK OUT THE MARKETING MASTERY COURSEhttps://shop.mobilebevpros.com/marketing-masteryWORK WITH SARAHwww.mobilebevpros.comJOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUPhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mbpgroupCONNECT ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/mobilebevprosFREE MASTERCLASS FOR MOBILE BARSwww.mobilebevpros.com/masterclass

In this episode I chat with personal development coach Paula Hatfield about navigating midlife - why it can be a challenge, what you can do to help and getting help from a professional.We also talk about how Paula markets her business as well as her tips for other small business owners.Paula's linksWebsite: https://hubofhappy.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hub_of_happy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-hatfield-7a5058215Email: paula@hubofhappy.co.ukResources:Find us at https://beyondthekitchentable.co.ukFree PDF download: https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/downloads/Blog post https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/blogFollow us at https://www.instagram.com/beyondthektEmail sayhello@beyondthekitchentable.co.uk

In this episode I chat with photographer Nadia Lavelle. We talk about why you need professional photography on your website and what you can do to make the process as enjoyable as possible so that you get the best images. We also talk about how Nadia gets clients, specifically SEO as 70 - 90% of her clients find her on Google.Nadia's linksWebsite: https://www.nadialavellephotography.co.ukFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nadialavellephotographyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadialavellephotographyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadialavelleEmail: hello@nadialavellephotography.co.ukResources:Find us at https://beyondthekitchentable.co.ukFree PDF download: https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/downloads/Blog post https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/blogFollow us at https://www.instagram.com/beyondthektEmail sayhello@beyondthekitchentable.co.uk

BlueCollar.CEO –Sarah Ghirardo is a Senior Marketing Operations Manager at Service Titan and Matt Tyner is the Vice President of Brand Experience at MAX Service Group. She's been in the trades for about 7+ years, cutting her teeth in the industry as a director of marketing. She now helps manage Lady Titans, a free woman in the trades organization group. Matt has been in the trades for over 14 years and has been on the distribution, e-commerce, and contractor sides of the industry. In this episode, Ryan, Sarah, and Matt discuss the marketing mistakes companies in the trades make during a recession, why you need to maintain a top-of-mind awareness during uncertainty, customer acquisition and lead generation tactics, and more. Blue Collar CEO is a podcast that is all about helping you build a better, more profitable, more sustainable & kick-ass home service business. Join Levergy® CEO Ryan Redding each week who will be joined by industry experts who will break down their success stories and give their best-kept secrets for industry domination. You do not want to miss it! Learn more at https://www.bluecollar.ceo/, or https://www.levergy.io.

SummaryIn this episode, Michelle discusses the difference between sales and marketing. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinction between the two and how they work together to generate revenue. Michelle also provides practical tips for implementing effective sales and marketing strategies, including the importance of follow-up, lead generation, and relationship building. She encourages listeners to evaluate their current activities and create a sales process that aligns with their goals. Finally, Michelle highlights the need for strategic sales and marketing in 2024 and encourages listeners to join her Sunday Morning Brew for valuable resources and updates.TakeawaysSales activities are focused on generating revenue and converting leads into paying customers, while marketing activities are aimed at creating awareness, attracting potential clients, and building brand awareness.Effective sales strategies include follow-up, lead tracking, and presenting offers to potential customers.Marketing strategies include lead generation, content marketing, relationship building, and networking.It is important to have a clear sales process and to evaluate and prioritize sales and marketing activities based on their effectiveness and alignment with business goals.Strategic sales and marketing are crucial for success in 2024, as buyer behavior has changed and customers are more selective in their purchasing decisions.Links:Focused Visionary Sunday Morning Brew If we haven't connected yet - I would LOVE to chat with you! Let's share a virtual cup of coffee and you can tell me all about you and your business. Connect with me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_denio/To learn more about customized 1:1 business growth support packages, visit our website or email michelle@michelledenio.comChapters00:00Introduction and Welcome00:51Request for Podcast Promotion01:21Relationship Marketing Tip02:20Sunday Morning Brew Announcement05:33Understanding Sales vs Marketing09:14Marketing Activities11:10Sales Activities17:39Action Steps: Evaluating Activities and Creating a Sales Process19:56Strategic Sales and Marketing in 202421:26Closing Remarks and Call to Action

In this episode we talk about how to market your business using Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Wendy has lots of great tips on why and how we should be using these platforms. She also shares how else she markets her business and other fantastic marketing tips.Wendy is a marketing consultant with many years of marketing experience and a social media trainer working with small business owners.Wendy's linksWebsites: www.wendywyssmarketing.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendywyssmarketingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendywyssmarketingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendywyssResources:Find us at https://beyondthekitchentable.co.ukFree PDF download: https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/downloads/Blog post https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/blogFollow us at https://www.instagram.com/beyondthektEmail sayhello@beyondthekitchentable.co.uk

How fast can you get results with marketing your business? In a world of wanting things now, AI and microwaves we'd like to think that there has been some sort of tactic that speeds up how fast people know, like and trust us. The truth is that doesn't exist. There are two ways to marketing your business, direct marketing and digital marketing. Direct marketing tends to be faster, only because you are contacting one person at a time having a conversation. However, long term who wants to spend all of their time doing cold outreach? That's where digital marketing comes in and how you are able to create a system that produces leads for you in the long run.

Learn how to be your own boss and the power of saying no   Those of you who are wondering whether it's time for you to leave that corporate life and start your own business, you're going to love my guests today, Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau. They're freelance writers and translators and the authors of the new book Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss. Many aspiring entrepreneurs have plenty of skill and passion but don't have a sense of how to run a business, which makes their advice so valuable. Are you an entrepreneur or solopreneur? You really should listen in. Watch and listen to our conversation here According to Julie and Jean-Benoit, a good business plan is basically six questions: 1. What do you want to do? 2. Why do you want to do it? 3. What's the market? 4. What price do you want to offer? 5. What will you bring to people? 6. What's the purpose, the “what for”? To connect with them, visit their LinkedIn page or their website. Want to learn more about what makes successful entrepreneurs successful? Here's a start: Blog: 10 Qualities To Drive Your Success As A Female Entrepreneur Blog: The 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Scale Your Business Podcast: Marsha Friedman—How A Woman Entrepreneur Took A Little Idea And Turned It Into A Big Business Podcast: Sharon Cully—Great Ideas to Help Entrepreneurs Gain Time and Success Additional resources for you My two award-winning books: Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business and On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights My third book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success, co-written with Edie Fraser and Robyn Freedman Spizman  Our website: Simon Associates Management Consultants Read the transcript of our podcast here Andi Simon: Welcome to On the Brink With Andi Simon. I'm Andi Simon, I'm your host and your guide. And remember, my job is to get you off the brink. So I want to bring to you people who are going to help you see, feel and think in new ways. You know, and this is always my starting speech, because what I want my audience, whether you're watching or you're listening, is to learn something new. And the best way to do that is to see it and feel it and begin to get the stories from someone else who has done it and say, Oh, I can do that too. So today I have a wonderful couple here to share with you their story and a new book. Let me tell you about them. Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau are the authors of Going Solo: Everything You Need to Start Your Business and Succeed as Your Own Boss. So those of you who are out there wondering whether or not it's time for you to leave that corporate life and start your own business, or you're already starting the business and want to know how to succeed at business, or you're really thinking about, I don't know, going back into business, it's a good time to listen in and think about your own purpose and passion and where you could really have a great trip. They are prize-winning authors and journalists. The husband and wife pair have been running a freelance writing business for over three decades. Look at the books behind them. I just love books and so many folks have no books. And I'm a book author and I love books. They've spoken across Canada, the US, Europe and Japan. Their work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The International Herald Tribune, France's L'Express, and more. They've published 15 books, written over a thousand articles, won more than 30 journalism and literary awards. They're avid travelers, they've lived in Paris, which I love, where John Boehner was a fellow of the Washington-based Institute for Current World Affairs. They've been to Toronto and Phoenix, where Julie was a Fulbright Scholar at Arizona State University. They're trilingual in English, French and Spanish, and they are based in Montreal, where they live with their twin daughters. I've told you enough. It's enough for you to see that I got somebody really cool here for you today, and they're going to help you. Just like I want to see things through a fresh lens. Thank you, Jean-Benoit and Julie, thanks for joining me. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: Thank you. Thank you very much for having us. Andi Simon: Now Jean-Benoit has told me I can call him JB. Tell us about your own journey. It's one thing to read a bio, it's another thing to begin to think through, How did they get here? Why this book at this time? You certainly have written lots. Jean-Benoit, would you like to start about your journey? Jean-Benoit Nadeau: Okay. I began as a writer in 1987. As a journalist. I'd done some theater before that. I'd studied engineering, decided in the end that I wanted to earn a living writing, and began as a writer. And since I was not that employable because I had no experience, I started freelancing, which was my destiny as a creator. Anyway, I realized later that a couple of things went well. I got my degree in political science, and was freelancing, meanwhile, and in 1993 things were going well and a magazine in Montreal offered me a job. I took the job and I was employed 29 days and I quit. That's when I became self-employed by choice. My father is an engineer. He had his own consultancy, which became quite large eventually, but he was an entrepreneur, and he's the first person who told me, because I was telling him, I have no job, What am I? Oh, he said, you're self-employed. Oh really? He said, Yes. I know what it was. Andi Simon: Bravo to your father. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: And then we discussed frequently until he became sick at the beginning of the middle of the year 2005. He was a good mentor. He mentored us a lot. And we realized quite early that a lot of the problems we were going through were the same that he was going through as an engineer. Aside from writing, you know, how do you negotiate? How do you manage without losing time? How do you finance your business and all these things? And I gave seminars first for journalists because I had a certain amount of success as a writer. So I was giving seminars to journalists. And then in 1997, I published a book which is the original version of the book in French for the Quebec market. And I started giving speeches in Chambers of Commerce and associate trade associations and realized that I was right on the advice that we had developed, because I was already partnered with Julie. So the advice that we were developing applied to everybody who wants to be creative in their work, really. And then we never had good success. We sold like 30,000 copies of the book in the tiny Quebec market and in French. And Julie said at one point, That book is absolutely translatable. So we got the rights back from my publisher and she translated it, and here we are. Julie Barlow: So I had been thinking for years and years of translating it, but just got buried under other projects. My writing career began much like jazz. I stumbled into it, began writing music, music reviews when I was in university. And I lost my confidence. I didn't come from a background with a father who was an entrepreneur. I didn't come from a business background at all. I didn't even know you could really make a living as a writer. Andi Simon: Aha. Julie Barlow: And that's not unusual in our field, you know, for people to have a skill and develop it but not have any sense of how to run a business. So I finished my education, finished my master's degree, and then just started out. And, nevertheless, even with that help that we had, there's a number of skills you have to really develop in order to make your passion into a business. Basically, I felt very fortunate to have your dad. And of course, we developed our own, our own by trial and error. And over the decades we developed our skills and our tips, and I was very happy to translate the book. We have two editions of it: one for the United States and one for Canada. And it's just great to share with others, not just creative people, but people who want to live their passion. They want to do what they want to do. They want to leave a job, start out fresh, out of school or whatever. There's just some basic things that you need to understand to make it work so that you don't get drowned in frustrations. Andi Simon: You know, it's interesting while I'm listening to you. So I'm in business 22 years now, and I launched my business after being in corporate as an executive in two banks and as an executive in two hospitals. And prior to that, I was an anthropology professor. I got my tenure and I was a visiting professor teaching entrepreneurship. And I was on a journey because I knew I was an anthropologist. I like to apply it among businesses that are going through change because people hate change. And I sort of helped them see, feel and think in new ways. But when I launched it after 911, my PR firm said to me, Oh, Andi, you're a corporate anthropologist who helps companies change. And I went, Bingo. And so in a sense, he defined my passion, my purpose, the why. Then the question was, how? And I did what I used to do anyway, which was start to have lunch with people, you know, never eat alone. We started to network and network and network. And next thing you know, I had a half a dozen clients and I went, Oh, this is fun. This is free. And I'm having a great time being me. And I do think that part of the passion and purpose is knowing who you are, not just what you do, but it's sort of my story. I want to go back to yours. When you began to help people through the book, let's talk about a process, a way of thinking. Because remember, we live the story in our mind. And so now the question is, typically the people who are going to read this book, what kind of story, what are they trying to do? Give them the wisdom and the lessons learned that you have. So the book complements it in some fashion. Who would like to start it? Jean-Benoit Nadeau: I think that a very important moment in the process of thinking of ourselves as entrepreneurial was the realization that it's so hard to change. And as an anthropologist, you'll understand. Historically, people used to be all self-employed. And the people who were employed were at the bottom of the scale. They didn't own their means of production, and they were at the bottom of the scale. And around the 19th century, that scale shifted. The people who were employed moved up socially, and it became a goal of education to have a job. We all went to study in order to have a job. We don't say to people, Study well, you're going to have your own enterprise. We never say that to kids. We tell them to study well, you'll have a job. So then I realized I will never have a job. What am I going to do? Well, I'm going to have work. Yep. So that's what self-employed is. You don't have a job, but you have work and you don't have a boss. You have a client who is your equal because you are your own boss and you don't have a salary. You have income which you build. But you see, it took me about 4 or 5 years even to send a bill to my clients because I thought it was pretentious. I'm sorry, I was an artist. I was a writer. I came from the theater. So at one point they would look at their books and say, Oh, we haven't paid this guy, so let's send him a check. That's how I was paid. So of course, that was the big moment of understanding that that's too much work. I don't have a job. Andi Simon: So, you know, Julie, I'm going to let you pop in, but I want to just set the context because I've been coaching some young women in their 20s, some are graduating from college, some have graduated and have had a couple of jobs. But I'm not sure that they know who they are, what they're doing, or why they're doing it. But I will tell you that the education in college makes them seem as if they're fully competent at something. They just don't know what that something is or where to find a company that wants their something. And I'm disturbed at the disconnect between their job, work, passion, purpose. Julie, your turn please. I didn't want to cut you off, but I wanted to set the stage. Julie Barlow: One of the big places where you see this problem of flipping from feeling like somebody's in control of what you produce and what you do, comes in negotiating, which is something we talk a lot about with writers who tend to think there's a system that they fit into and there's a certain amount that they will get paid. And they tend not to think that they're in the driver's seat. And so they get exploited. And one of the big problems is that people who, and you see this sometimes when people who leave a job to start working freelance, they just think of their clients as their bosses. And they even use that term. They say well, the boss says, the bosses, and they don't start from a position of power, which is that they can sell or not sell, and sometimes it's just worth walking away. I mean, I have this discussion with fellow writers a lot. There are clients who are just not good clients, and they're hurting you and they're not paying you fairly and they're wasting your time. You could be using your means and whatever it is you sell or produce to make money from somebody who appreciates it, you know? So one of the big things is avoiding bad clients and learning to say no. So we have a little section in the book of 16 Ways to Say No. It's very popular with people. You have to learn when to say no and how to walk away from things. And sometimes saying no is what really radically, suddenly improves your condition. I mean, you need to be able to do that. It's tough for people. Andi Simon: Well, it's interesting because I remember my first client who I said, “I'm really not good for you and you're not good for me. So I think you should find somebody else for your sake.” And I remember that feeling of freeing myself, but allowing them to be free of me as well, because we were simply not going to make it. And it was for your sake. And I'm sure that because it was a perspective that it wasn't my problem but for your benefit, it's time to go. But I've learned that no is a good word. Julie Barlow: Yes, it is a good word. And it can even bring a bigger yes at the end of the day from somebody else. I recently, last year, said no to a really, really what could have been a very lucrative writing contract with somebody that I just knew we were not a good fit. You know, you have to, and we talk about this as well in the book, you have to explore fairly carefully with your client. Make sure they understand what they're getting, make sure they understand what you're giving them. Yes, you're on the same terms. Things have to be clear from the beginning or you have problems down the line. And I just could not get through to them. We just could not see eye to eye on the thing. But, we left on good terms and I said, I'm sorry, I'm just not going to do this anymore. The word about what I had done with them traveled back to his literary agent which came back to me in the form of another book contract. So I absolutely understood what I did. But, you know, these are the lessons that you learn as a business person, clients' expectations. And again, it's the boss-client mentality. You have to take the time to make sure that you understand their expectations and that they understand what they're getting or you just end up with problems with them. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: People make a lot of fuss about the business plan. We've got questions about that. And I say, yeah, I know, but we say, the business plan is basically five questions. What do you want to do? Why do you want to do it? What's the market? What price do you want to offer? What will you bring to people? That's just the basics. If you need financing or an associate, you may need to write almost a book business plan, a book-size business plan. But a good business plan can fit on 2 or 3 pages. But there's a sixth question, which I forgot, that I didn't mention, which I think is the most important: What for, the purpose? But your goal, your personal goal, where do you want to go with that? Do you want to teach social dancing? A lot of people want to turn their passion into a business, and that's good. That's often why people go with you. Self-Employment. Well, you're not going to once things start running and that can come pretty quickly. You'll go somewhere if you know where you want to go, and you will not even decide who your clients are. And if you want to start teaching for the purpose of creating a franchise of social dancing, or create a shoe for social dancing, you are not going to choose your clients in the same way. Your venues, the place where you're going to showcase them, etcetera. And it's the same with a writer. You are not going to do all the thousands of choices you have to do in your daily business. If you want to be a publisher or have an agency, or want to be an editor in chief, or move into book writing or film, these are all personal choices. There's nobody who's going to tell you which is right, but it's very important, it orients you. Andi Simon: But I also think, I can't tell you how many folks come in by referral. Sometimes they find us on the internet and they are trying to do what they did in the corporate world in an independent freelance business fashion, but they don't really understand that things are different. You know, they did this there and therefore I'm going to do this now. I said, But there you had the brand of the big company and you had a network and so forth. Why should somebody hire you now? And how are you going to actually build a revenue stream, a client base, have a business with it, as opposed to being an employed person who used to do something. This means the story changes, but they aren't thinking about how to do it actually and they have no idea. Very often your book is very valuable about how I think about myself now? Because when I said I'm a corporate anthropologist who helps companies change, to be honest with you, I knew people had to change, they didn't care how I did it, and I admitted I picked that one up. I knew that the whole sales process was about, you know, where are your gaps? Where's your pain point? How can I help? How I did it, they didn't care. But it's a very important piece. They really didn't know what an anthropologist would do, but it was interesting to watch the transformation. But many times they come and don't know how to turn an idea, an observation, into a business innovation. So your book comes at a very timely moment. When they get going, do you help them create scalability? A word I use often because, you know, there are 13 million women-owned businesses in the US. 10 million of them don't make solopreneurs. 5 million of those don't make more than $10,000 a year. And they're more like side hustles, which is fine. But there are a whole lot of solopreneurs, and I worry about the lack of scalability. Not being able to underwrite it with the right capital. Don't know how to use a bank to finance it. Don't use their credit cards with family and friends. I mean, there's a whole huge market of folks who need to make an income in a better way, but need to think differently about what they're doing and not simply celebrate the fact that they're not inside a company, which is often what they say. “I didn't like being there, so I'm doing this.” I say, “But you're not in business. You're just trying.” So, thoughts? Julie Barlow: So one of the ideas that we speak of is that between somebody making $25,000 a year as a solopreneur and somebody making $250,000 a year, the thing you have to understand is that you don't have to work ten times more. You make your choices in the function of things. In our case, writing that feeds other ways of making money. So for instance, we wrote a book about the French language and we turned that into speaking gigs on the French language, articles on the French language, a film script on the French language, a radio show on the French language. I mean, the book just keeps on giving us content that we use for other things. And we're not being paid to sit and produce new content every day. That's what we would do if we had a job, perhaps as a script writer at a company. But we are using our content to make money for us. The best way to be a writer is to sit and wait for the royalty checks to come to the door. You know, of course we have to write, but all of the choices that we make, we make sure that they are not dead end choices because they are choices that are going to feed that or feed other books or enable us to produce books using a gig, doing something that will feed us with content for something else. I mean, that's how we go from thinking like an employee to thinking like a business person. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: I recently read a biography of Charles Dickens and was fascinated that he was one of the first authors in history to do what he called “work the copyright,” which meant that earning a living was not just about writing, it was to use his intellectual property to work for him, and for a lot less work. And as writers, we have the benefit of having intellectual property created the minute we finish something. The costly part of the intellectual property is developing it into research. But if you choose your ideas very well for the purpose of reusing them, then things become a lot easier. That's just in the production side of it. But if you negotiate well, you can actually improve your productivity without raising your rate just because you understand better what the client wants or because you negotiate better the ownership of what you produce for them, because you keep that ownership for yourself or because you get better terms. That's just at the negotiating level. You can keep collecting. If you bill quickly, you collect quickly, and then you have less money on your credit card. There's all sorts of things like this at all levels of what it is to run a business that are productive. Andi Simon: And what you're saying though, is a mindset. And I do think that mindset isn't the narrow: I'm a freelance writer. It's the broad: I'm in business to take ideas and in multiple channels begin to bring them to market because my purpose is to share French and I need to do it on all the different channels. And I need to do that in multiple different ways. And the content keeps repurposing itself. I mean, people say to me, Did you sell a lot of books? I said, I brought in a lot of clients. I mean, you can bring in good clients. I was in Mexico three times off a book that someone found in a Hudson News in an airport, and got to give programs to CEOs down there three years in a row. Before the pandemic, I just loved the multiplier of the book. And I just had a podcast earlier today of a guy who I gave the On the Brink book to. He took it on his vacation, came back and was quoting it for me. I mean, you can't ask for much more than that. I love how what we do is designed not to be an end, but a beginning.  And I do think it opens the door. And the idea is, how many different doors can it open and how do we get to where we're really taking the message and helping spread it. Julie Barlow: To do that you kind of have to be agile. I mean, the word is a little overused, but you do. You need to be watching what's going on. You know, in the book, we encourage people who are starting out to be curious to contact their competitors, to sit down with people in their business and ask questions and figure things out. People can be very shy and a little bit locked into their own little universe. You can stay in front of your screen all the time, but it's important to get out and understand what's going on. And people are helpful. And they're happy to have somebody, I'm happy for young writers to approach me and to ask for me to sit down and explain things to them. When I don't have time to do a contract. I'd love to be able to keep my client happy by sending them somebody else who can. And you know, that happens fairly frequently. And it's sort of a win-win for everybody. But, you know, communication and being open to that and watching the industry change is really important. One of our early methods was to resell articles because we write in both languages and we would resell them in different markets. And that changed when the internet came. And we started writing before the internet when that all changed. And then it was very hard to keep our copyright over certain things and resell things. But we found new ways to do that. And one of them is translating and we don't necessarily get paid for our copyright, but we need to translate it. So we get paid for that. We're always looking to see where the soft spots are and how things are changing. And you always have to kind of be aware of what's going on and not get stuck in a way of doing things. And that, again, is something very particular to being sort of an entrepreneur, entrepreneurial state of mind, as opposed to thinking like an employee and doing what you're asked to do. Andi Simon: You're segueing into a topic that I always like to include, though, and you've been through many years of watching many different transitions and transformations, and often you pick up. I often talk about the future is here, we just haven't quite distributed it widely. But you pick up little signs, and the little signs are the tip of the iceberg of where things are going. Are there some signs that you're already beginning to watch happen and you're saying, there's something coming? I'm not quite sure what, but I'm really interested to see where and who, and I'm going to poke further, and anything you can share, because I do think the times are changing. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: Well, in Canada we have this problem right now. The Canadian government wants to control better. Well, wants to ensure that big companies like Facebook and Google share their publicity market with traditional media, and they created a law, a Facebook Australia-style law. And Facebook reacted by blocking all Canadian content on Facebook. And Google is threatening that. So that is raising a lot of questions on the future of writing as a writer in Canada. It's going to be a rocky year next year, I would say. Julie Barlow: So artificial intelligence is a big one. Yeah, AI is affecting us. Again, maybe back to what Jean-Benoit said about purpose. We as sort of high-end writers are right now kind of safe from AI. It can't really do what we're doing. So we're enjoying the benefits of it right now, which is transcribing automatic tools for transcribing interviews and translation tools that give us decent first drafts of translations and various different things, but all the writing community is a little on edge about what is going to do, because it's getting better at generative artificial intelligence. We can't afford to have our head in the sand. Andi Simon: I fell in love with AI. I say that gently because I use it in different kinds of ways. It writes great poems for me. And if I want to give a granddaughter a poem about a situation, I give it three facts and outcomes a great poem. And I went, I can't write that, but boy, that is a great poem, and I don't even know who I would ask to write it. But it is interesting to watch what we begin to use it for. I had a great big project and I said, Tell me, what are your thoughts, AI, about this project I'm working on? And it freshened up my thinking, not that I was necessarily going to use it, but as a solopreneur, it's often difficult to find open colleagues with conversations that can make intelligent insights into things you're thinking about. And so I'm finding all kinds of ways to make it my friend. And I say that because it's how you feel about it as opposed to being angry at it. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: You know, we use artificial intelligence a fair amount. We have an excellent character here called Antidote. It's pure artificial intelligence. And all the intelligence software that is there doesn't make a very good translation, but makes a good first draft. In fact, in Canada, where we translate a fair amount because we have two official languages, the number of people who are employed as translators has increased by 18% in the last seven years, when the labor force has increased by six. So it reduced the cost of entry to a lot of people who would not translate. And then they give it to a machine. They come out and they say, someone says, that's not very good, but let's hire someone who finishes the translation. Andi Simon: What is Grammarly? I mean, this whole book, I put every one of them through it. We have 102 women and I gave everyone to Grammarly and they made the corrections and I sent it back and they approved it. And man, it was efficient. And there were limits to how much creativity was going to go into it. But it got me comfortable that they would sound professional and it was even far better than the proofreader of the publisher. And so it was fun to test. I just needed a third third party. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: But one of the things about artificial intelligence is that it's a misnomer. It's an algorithm that processes a lot of information. And one of the problems for journalists, anyway, one of the issues with our AI is that, for example, ChatGPT is essentially a sociopath. It doesn't tell you it doesn't know what it doesn't know. It makes up things and it doesn't give you the source, which is contrary to any kind of ethics in journalism. And, I don't think it threatens journalism. It will be a tool like glasses or even the word processor. Andi Simon: You know, I'm in the schools, my daughter is a teacher. And she said back to me, I had to do a lesson plan for a student in special ed. So I went into ChatGPT and it came back and it was almost as good as I would have done. And in a minute I went, yeah, now use your time to teach the child and not write the lesson plan. You know, it's a perfectly good way to get going. Nothing is perfect, and even our own lesson plans may not be perfect. We think they're better than AI. But I'm enjoying the transition to the next stage of data and insights coming from intelligent stuff in different ways. So it'll be fun if we stay and make it happy, and then be wise and go back and check and make sure it's correct. But even this stuff on Google, I'm never quite sure it's correct either. You have to be knowledgeable enough to know. This has been such fun. I'm so glad that you're on our podcast today, and if folks would like to buy the book, where could they buy it? Julie Barlow: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca in Canada, Barnes and Noble. It should be available in any bookstore. Jean-Benoit Nadeau: It's widely distributed. Just make sure if you ever go, it probably won't happen, but the Canadian edition has a little maple leaf at the top. If it doesn't have that little maple leaf, it's an American edition. Andi Simon: The things that look great. Thank you so much. So it's going solo and if you want to go solo, you've been with us today listening to Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau. I do, as we are trying to really help you see, feel and think in new ways so that you can decide, how am I going to spend the next stage of my career doing a job, or do I want really interesting work? Am I going to be a creator of a whole new market space, or am I going to copy someone else and be another? And I do think it's a time for really rethinking who you are and where you're going and how to do it. So I want to thank you for coming. Thank you for coming today and speaking to our audience. As you know, our new book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success, just came out and it is doing gangbusters. And it too is on all the booksellers, Barnes and Noble and Amazon. It's the stories of 102 women, and they are really interesting stories because the women have five wisdoms they want to share with you, and each of them has a different background, history, and their own journey. And it's really quite fascinating. The reviews are: "I wasn't sure what I was going to find, but I went through the whole book and each of the women inspired me. So when you gave the book to me, man, this is a great book!" Who knew? And I said, I know. The whole idea is to share their wisdom with you so you can be inspired, you can aspire to greatness. You can begin to think about how other women have done it. One of my favorite quotes in there is, “Don't believe everything you're thinking.” And I said, I like that. We preach, turn a page and change your life. I really think women in business are here to help you do just that. So on that note, I want to thank everyone for coming. Keep sending me your ideas on who we should have on, share the podcast and I wish you well. Bye bye now.   WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS® is a registered trademark of the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO)

Today we are talking about a topic that we all need to pay attention to. Many of us don't like this part of our business. Our guest, Holly Mabery, is going to break it down to a simple plan for us to follow. What's the topic? Marketing! Holly brings this huge concept to a manageable part of your business. She is also one of the subject matter experts for NAR's Marketing Strategy and Lead Generation course. Let's join Holly for some great information on marketing and a few laughs about this potentially overwhelming topic! [3:38] The most successful agents are the ones who show up with value and substance to their clients. That's the key to building your business.  [4:00] Before selling a house, you have to figure out how to market yourself to get listings, how to market the listings, and then how to re-sell the house each time the buyer goes back to it. Clients will come to you because of how you show up and the consistency with which you show up. [9:17] Holly coaches new agents to know the purchase contract better than anybody in the market.  [12:33] Holly discusses three things to help with marketing.  [22:02] If you spend a dollar, you should back that up in free ROI tenfold. If you can't do that, don't spend that dollar. [24:08] Every time you earn a designation, like the Accredited Buyer Representative, put that certificate on LinkedIn and promote yourself. Every time you do an educational video put it on LinkedIn. [24:55] Your phone is your second biggest tool, after your resume. Start using your phone!  [26:54] Do a quarterly e-newsletter with a calendar. Spotlight a specific business. Include one real estate stat.  [29:35] Google will let you send out 500 emails daily. Use MLS drip campaigns for targeted marketing. Look for opportunities to help people. [35:01] Don't be overwhelmed by the number of platforms. Pick one to start and focus on using it for 30 days.  [36:36] If you can explain to your buyer or seller the ways they can get out of a contract, that builds trust. [37:57] Ask for reviews. Ask people who loved you to talk about it. Rate My Agent is a great tool to use.  [43:47] Your value proposition is to earn the trust of your client and take care of their needs. Identify what job your client is hiring you to do while you treat everybody equally.  [53:07] Find your specialty; residential resale or new homes? Find that nuance. Where are you already showing up online? Accentuate that. [55:35] Always be yourself! Be yourself authentically because people want to work with you. They want to refer you. If you're anything but yourself, that will take more time, energy, and effort and burn you out faster. So always be yourself and show up in that way. Tweetables: “When you start to think of marketing, it's huge, it's nuanced, and it's layered. My best advice to everybody out there right now is to take a deep breath; inhale and exhale. It's going to be fine. You can do it. Find your niche and be authentically yourself.” — Holly Mabery “Show up. One thing at a time. Learn your contract first. Period.” — Holly Mabery “You are the glue that puts the pieces together. [Your client] has all the pieces. You are the glue that pulls it together and helps them understand how it works.” — Holly Mabery Guest Links: Holly Mabery, VP of Operations at eXp Realty eXprealty.comHolly Mabery on LinkedIn Rate My Agent Related Episodes: “Lead Generation Through Relationships with Sean Carpenter” “The Champlain Towers Collapse: What REALTORS® Can Learn” “What Are You Selling? How to Know Your Product and Communicate Your Expertise with Josh Cadillac”   NAR Resource Links NAR.realtor/technology   Additional Links: Microcourses found at Learning.REALTOR. Use the coupon code PODCAST to obtain 15% off the price of any microcourse!   CRD@NAR.REALTOR Crdpodcast.REALTOR Learning.REALTOR — for NAR Online Education Training4RE.com — List of Classroom Courses from NAR and its affiliates CRD.REALTOR — List of all courses offered Host Information: Monica Neubauer Speaker/Podcaster/REALTOR® Monica@MonicaNeubauer.com MonicaNeubauer.com FranklinTNBlog.com Monica's Facebook Page Facebook.com/Monica.Neubauer Instagram Instagram.com/MonicaNeubauerSpeaks   Guest Bio Holly Mabery brings a contagious enthusiasm for all things real estate. A full-time REALTOR® since 1998, her passion for our industry led her to serve as the 2012 President of the Arizona Association of REALTORS® and she remains active on state & national committees. Holly is a VP of Brokerage Operations for eXp Realty and a former state-designated broker of Arizona supervising & training over 1800 agents. Holly is the Co-Creator of the Arizona REALTORS® Leadership Training Academy, a strategic planner, industry speaker, and instructor whose goal is to build strong communities with each transaction working with clients, REALTORS®, and associations. Hollymabery.com

We are starting a new series for the month of October, Tricks & Treats for Marketing Your Business Online.  In today's episode we talk about platforms to market your business on.In this episode I mention email marketing and an entire series on the podcast was on the topic of email marketing.  These episodes include:Everything You Need to Build an Email List (An Overview)The Importance of Email NewslettersTop 3 Email Service Providers I Recommend

On this week's episode, Hannah and Morgan chat about why the fuck business is SO slow right now! They spend some time normalizing that everyone is feeling this lull and list out some culprits that are contributing to the industry slow down. Hannah and Morgan leave you with some actionable steps to turn your anxiety into action and market the hell out of your business!Be sure to subscribe, share with a friend and leave us a review to help people find our work!Texas MumsReach Out by Molly BeckSkill Share - Google Ads Classes*May contain Affiliate Links*Sign up for our newsletter for pep talks, business round ups, resources, and things we've been loving during the week.This podcast is brought to you by Morgan and Hannah's daily consumption of coffee. You can buy us a coffee here! Follow Weight Inclusive Innovators on Instagram.Email us with questions or show topics at hello@weightinclusiveinnovators.com.Where to Find Morgan:Morgan Sinclair DesignsWeight Inclusive Business AcademyThe Eating ExpeditionWhere to Find Hannah:Values Driven GroupNourishED Colorado

In today's episode, I share what it means to have a business that is ALIGNED with you. Many new business owners don't really think about their business needing to feel truly authentic to them - but here's what it means & why it's so important :)  READ MORE HERE_________________________________________________________________FREE RESOURCES!

Today is a power-packed episode sharing 3 reasons why your marketing isn't working. It's no secret that most new business owners struggle with marketing - so listen up so you can give yourself some grace, but also figure out what to do going forward! READ MORE HERE

Email marketing is a great strategy to get more customers and more sales and automate some of your marketing, but there are some best practices that you need to follow to get the most out of your email marketing strategy. In this episode, Torie will show you how to make email marketing your super power for business growth. Get transcript and resources at https://toriemathis.com/email-marketing-best-practices-that-actually-work/