More than a Few Words

1. #934 Face the Day

I got up this morning and there was snow outside. And, quite honestly I was annoyed because it still fall. The change in weather completely messed with my plans. But, when I got over being annoyed I reached for a sweater, found my my hat and went out to face the day. In a way, that's the life of an entrepreneur. You have your plans, you have your ideas and then something happens. So you have to dig around in your closet and find a tool or technique a new hat. Put it on and get ready to face t

Dec 03,2023 00:59

2. #933 She Thinks Big

I was so excited to have another chance to talk to Andrea Liebross, a business and life coach who specializes in empowering female entrepreneurs. This time our conversation revolved around how women owners can think big, manage like a CEO, and achieve success in both their professional and personal lives. Andrea shares insights from her new book, "She Thinks Big: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Guide to Moving Past the Messy Middle and Into the Extraordinary." She outlines four key steps for becomi

Nov 30,2023 10:46

3. #930 Stop Wasting Money on Marketing

In this podcast interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jan Cavelle, a seasoned entrepreneur from the UK with a wealth of experience in running micro and small businesses. She is the author of two books, "Scale for Success" and "Start for Success," aimed at helping aspiring and growing entrepreneurs. She has also contributed an article as a guest author to my new collection of essays.We discussed the common issue of small businesses wasting time and money on marketing. Jan emphasized the

Nov 23,2023 12:04

4. #929 Start with Words

I know. you think we're living in a visual video world. Maybe you believe and you don't need to write anything anymore. But that just isn't true. No matter what happens in the world of content it starts with words. So I really enjoyed chatting with Erin Lebacqz about the challenges people face when starting to write and tips on effective writing techniques for both informational and emotional impacts.Erin provides valuable advice on initiating writing, combatting "Blank Screen Paralysis," and

Nov 21,2023 11:16

5. #928 Time for a Rebrand

When you create your brand you are investing in something that should last for the long haul. The colors, the fonts and your overall style guide should remain fairly consistent over the life of your brand. However, sometimes your business changes and when it does you might want to consider rebranding.Maybe you want a more mature look, something more representative of. and established company. Or, in my case as I let go of my agency I'm looking to change my branding to create an image that is m

Nov 19,2023 02:02

6. #927 Bringing Sales and Marketing Together.

In this interview, I was excited to invite Patty Farmer, to join me once again for a quick conversation. This time we dove into how to integrate marketing and sales activities to benefit your business. It all starts by setting specific and measurable goals for both marketing and sales efforts, establishing benchmarks to track success.Patty explains the importance of reverse engineering goals, starting with the ultimate sales goal and working backward to determine the steps and content needed to

Nov 16,2023 10:37

7. #925 Call Visitors to Action

The goal of every page on your website is to get visitors to do something. Maybe that's fill out a contact form, pick up the phone to call you, download an e-book, register for an event or sign up for your newsletter. No matter what it is you want customers to do the best way to get them to do that is to have a clear call to action on the page.CTA's come in all shapes and sizes as they're scattered through your website. However, the one on your homepage, that primary CTA needs to be the most im

Nov 12,2023 01:53

8. #924 Your Next Hire

Why did I invite Lisa McDonald, a certified career coach to join me for a conversation? You are not looking for a job, but you are probably looking for employees,And Lisa is probably working with those potential employees, telling them not to apply for a job with your company. In this lively conversation, we talk about the mistakes employers make starting with job descriptions that don't really reflect the company to interviews that go completely off the rails. This is one conversation you nee

Nov 09,2023 10:31

9. #923 What is Your Brand Position

More than just marketing hype, your brand is about creating an impression of your company in the mind of your prospective customer. It is the basis on which all your other marketing should be built.More than ten years ago, Allison Carter and I discussed how a brand position defines who you are and who you serve. It isn't marketing copy, but a clear outline of what you want customers to think about when they hear your name.A positioning statement contains the following elements:Description of th

Nov 07,2023 21:45

10. #921 Where are Your Keys?

My friend Michelle McNally, the Executive Vice President of Customer Success for BoxCrush dropped by to talk about the importance of safeguarding digital assets, including passwords and resources. We talked about the key elements business owners should have control over to ensure the security and accessibility of their online assets. Michelle highlights the common challenges faced by business owners and marketing departments when it comes to managing these assets. She stresses the importance of

Nov 02,2023 10:58

11. #920 Don’t be a Rotten Apple

When asked about their branding style, I often hear business owners say they "want to look like Apple." They admire the clean, sleek design. They imagine their brand will seem modern, authentic, high-tech, hip, cool and smart if they incorporate some of the same style elements into their brand. But it is usually a bad idea.Don't get me wrong, I love Apple's branding for Apple. It just rarely works out for other brands. Why?Business owners won't walk the talk.Apple styling requires lots of white

Oct 29,2023 02:22

12. #919 Managing the Content Beast

In this podcast episode of "More than a Few Words," host Lorraine Ball interviews Geoffrey Klein, a story expert, TEDx speaker, and content producer, about creating captivating content. Klein's new book, "The Content Beast," serves as a guide to crafting remarkable content. The conversation revolves around the challenge of making content stand out and the art of storytelling.Klein suggests that a key element of compelling content is understanding and catering to the audience. He introduces the c

Oct 26,2023 11:31

13. #916 Buy, Don’t Build

I had a wonderfully, thought-provoking conversation with Jon Rogers about a unique strategy for business growth – the idea of buying businesses rather than building them from scratch.Jon shares his insights into how wealth accumulation is often driven by acquiring and merging existing businesses rather than starting from the ground up. He emphasizes that these principles can be applied by anyone, not just the top 1% of wealthy individuals, and explains how the lower 99% can also benefit from th

Oct 19,2023 11:10

14. #915 Dance withTime

Are you clocking in early and burning the midnight oil every single day? As a small business owner you may feel that is required to get ahead, but it doesn't have to be the pattern for your days.It's not when you waltz in, but how well you dance as you hit the floor. The art of time management is an elusive dance, but here are a few simple steps that will help you glide to success.Create a daily to-do list. Instead of drowning in a sea of week-long and month-long chores use this lean list of the

Oct 15,2023 01:58

15. #914 Seven Figure Sales Teams

In this podcast interview, I had a chance to chat with Che Brown, about the importance of building a high-performing sales team for entrepreneurs aiming to achieve 7 or 8-figure businesses. Che emphasizes the primary challenge facing entrepreneurs today is often insufficient revenue to realize their visions. He highlights five crucial steps to create a 7-figure sales team.Che's first step is to hire a sales representative who works on a commission basis, emphasizing that this person only gets pa

Oct 12,2023 11:25

16. #913 - Creating Content for People With Short Attention Spans

Almost ten years ago, I had a conversation with Juett. We discussed the fact that people just don’t have the same attention span they used to. You need to get to the point quickly if you want to hold their attention. Surprisingly, our tips on how to keep visitors with short attention spans interested and engaged is as relevant today as it was almost a decade ago.Listen now to learn how to implement writing techniques like lists and engaging headings to capture your audience at a glance and get

Oct 10,2023 10:47

17. #912 Lessons from Retail

I started my career in retail as the floor manager. It was my job to attract customers as they walked down the aisle, to pull them into the department and get them to stay. I would organize the racks of clothing so that they would browse from one to the next and stay in the area as long as possible. Hopefully they would stay until they bought something. Funny thing, as a web designer that was still my job. When I I looked at the design of a website I would think about how I was going to pull a

Oct 08,2023 01:22

18. #911 Building Community

Deb Schell joins me for a conversation about building and nurturing communities. Deb emphasizes that in today's information age, communities play a vital role in facilitating learning and implementation of new ideas, connecting people with similar challenges or goals. She also highlights the need for business owners to focus on the people, purpose, and problem-solving within their communities rather than fixating on platforms.Deb suggests building your community by identifying ideal members wit

Oct 05,2023 11:16

19. #910 - Smats, Guts, Luck and Friends

I've heard it said that entrepreneurs need three things - smarts, guts and luck.Your smarts can be street smarts, book smarts or creative smarts. You've got to be able to use your intelligence to navigate decisions rationally and analytically.You must have the guts to go after your big ideas. You need courage to put yourself out there and not worry others would think. You need to be brave enough to try things even if other people think you are crazy.And Luck? Even with smarts and guts sometimes

Sep 30,2023 01:31

20. #909 Use AI for Your Home Page

This week I had a chance to chat with Jeanette Stein, a seasoned business coach who specializes in using AI and automation for business growth. She shared insights into how to harness AI while maintaining a personalized touch, overcome SEO concerns, and develop a distinct brand voice.As a writer, I am just a bit nervous about using AI for website copy but Jeanette emphasizes the importance of maintaining a human element while interacting with AI, guiding it with prompts to create tailored conten

Sep 28,2023 11:05

21. #907 Evaluate and Embrace New Technology

How do you decide which software tools and digital trends deserve attention and resources and which don’t? So how did I answer the question? Simple, our strategy is explore, evaluate and embrace.The first part of the strategy is staying ahead of the curve by reading, reading, reading. There’s no single expert in the field so I have several websites I check on a regular basis.When I find new software tools which pique my curiosity, I switch over to evaluation mode. I dive into by reading product

Sep 24,2023 02:06

22. #906 Let AI Tell Your Story

In this episode I have a chance to chat with Richard Rosser about the intersection of artificial intelligence and storytelling.Richard shares tips on how to use AI for brainstorming story ideas. He explains ChatGPT can generate concepts and case scenarios for various situations. Instead of spending hours sifting through search engine results, ChatGPT provides focused and organized information.He elaborates on the potential of AI to craft stories from prompts and how to use AI to refine your sto

Sep 21,2023 11:12

23. #905 I Love Evergreen Content

One of the things I love about living in Indiana is the color the seasons. There are bright pastels in the spring and rich greens in the summer and bright oranges and yellows in the fall. The exception is winter. Those dreary days of winter seem colorless and bland compared to the vibrancy of the colors throughout the rest of the year. That's why I love evergreen trees. They bring spots of color all year long.And just as those wonderful trees bring consistent color to my yard. evergreen content

Sep 17,2023 01:27

24. #904 Navigating Growth Amid Economic Uncertainty

In this episode, the spotlight is on the challenging decisions that small business owners face amidst economic uncertainties. Joining the conversation is Beate Chelette, the growth architect and founder of the Women's Code. Beate equips visionary leaders with strategies, blueprints, and growth maps to enhance business systems, strengthen leadership skills, and maximize profits. With her insights, she guides clients to amplify their impact and scale their businesses.Thriving Amidst TurbulenceBeat

Sep 14,2023 11:28

25. #903 Learn to Harness Chaos

Some people think that chaos is a dirty word. But as my guest Robert Raymond Riopel suggests, a little bit of chaos in your life is a good thing. If you missed this conversation when it was first released in 2021, you definitely want to check it out now. He suggests that as as human beings, one of our primary functions is to evolve and chaos is actually what forces us to evolve. When you courageously volunteer for chaos, instead of allowing it to overwhelm you can takes steps to proactively ch

Sep 12,2023 13:07

26. #902 A Different Perspective

If you're getting ready to hire someone new or add a person to your advisory board it is easy to look for someone with whom you'll get along. That, however, might not be the best choice.What you often need is someone who can compliment your weaknesses and fill in the blanks in your skill set. Very often the person who does that is the Yin to your Yang.They're your opposite and so while they bring that fresh perspective and different skills they can also make you a little crazy because they're

Sep 10,2023 01:04

27. #901 The Key to Success is in the Implementation

If you are like most business owners you have lots of great ideas. As a matter of fact you have so many ideas it is hard to get any of them done. In this episode, Annelise Worn shares her insights on the importance of aligning business goals with one's desired lifestyle and values. Her approach involves reverse engineering an idea by starting with the vision of the business and life you aspire to lead.She emphasizes the significance of breaking down goals into three distinct time frames: three

Sep 07,2023 11:05

28. #900 Go to The Gym

Every time I go to the gym I see people using weights that are clearly too heavy for them. There is pain in their faces as they struggle to lift the extra weight. They are risking injury every time they do that. My trainer always suggests I work with lighter weights which allows me to perfect the motion. I can do more repetitions and will build muscle as well as the people who struggle with the weights that are too big.There is a marketing lesson here. Instead of running one very big campaign t

Sep 03,2023 01:08

29. #899 Managing Good and Bad Stress

If you are like most business owners, right now you are stressing about something. You are probably thinking if you could only get rid of that stress everything would be better. But Allison Graham, suggests some of that stress is actually helpful. She discusses three categories of stress: empowering stress, destructive stress, and survival stress. Empowering stress is characterized by feeling energized, in a state of flow, and capable of tackling challenging tasks. It's the positive stress tha

Aug 31,2023 10:57

30. #898 Discover Productivity Hacks

Tracy Brinkman shared some great productivity hacks you can use to take control of the chaos in your day.Time Blocking:If you have a task, that is high priority make a date with yourself. Block out time as if is an important meeting, maybe an hour or so, and don’ let anyone cut into that time.Set PrioritiesStop trying to accomplish 87 things each week. Pick a few top priority items and make sure they get done first. When you combine these two productivity hacks you end up working in short bur

Aug 29,2023 10:29

31. #897 I Wrote a Book

Twenty years ago I wrote a book called the Science of Marketing and and recently I decided to update the book. As I started editing, I realized most of the content is as accurate today as it was twenty years ago,Sure some of the examples are a bit out of date because I talked a lot about postcards and radio advertising which really isn't appropriate for small businesses anymore. However, the foundation and the thought process is still as relevant as it was twenty years ago. So if you bought a

Aug 27,2023 02:27

32. #896 Build Trust by Letting People See the Real You

Most of the time marketing planning consists of thinking about what are you going to do. My guest Derek Johnson suggests that maybe you need to be focused on the "who" of marketing. This involves creating content to build a personal brand and show the human side of business.People often prioritize the technical aspects of marketing, such as techniques, tech work, and funnels, while neglecting the human aspect that builds trust. Sharing personal stories and daily routines on platforms like Inst

Aug 24,2023 10:29

33. #895 Don’t Write Bad Blog Posts

We routinely tell business owners that great blog posts are an important part of their sales, marketing and SEO strategy. With so much riding on each and every blog post, it’s tempting to push the sales element really hard. But that is exactly the opposite of what you should do.The hard sell is one sure way to turn off prospective customers. Think about the late night television commercials that scream at you at 3 am. Instead of making me want to learn more about their incredible claims to lose

Aug 20,2023 01:27

34. #894The Strategy of Good Web Design

Great websites don't happen by accident. Sierra Janisse believes every decision you make on your website from what images you use to the words you write , the pages you create and all the call to action buttons starts with answering one basic question.What do you want your ideal clients to do when they come to your website. What is your primary call to action for your visitors. About SierraSierra Janisse of Sierra Lin Design is a Certified Master Marketer, Kajabi Web and Funnel Designer, and

Aug 17,2023 10:12

35. #893 The Human Factor

These days, it seems like everybody's talking about robots. It's easy to get swept up by trends like Google algorithm changes and AI generated content. But, guest Rai Hyde Cornell says those things are secondary to the most important factor in your marketing - the human beings Too often, we think about the system or platform first. We wonder if we should jump into Threads or buy Google ads, but those decisions come after you decide who you are talking to. About RaiRai Hyde Cornell has been freel

Aug 15,2023 11:09

36. #892 Convey Meaning with an Image

Traveling through Central Europe I was in three different countries, with three different currencies and three different languages. I don't speak Czech, German or Hungarian, but managed to navigate bus, train and boat transportation with ease.How? Almost everywhere we went the directional signs included simple icons which conveyed their meaning at a glance. As I sipped my espresso in a sidewalk café I thought about how this same strategy of simple meaningful graphics applies to any business, eve

Aug 13,2023 01:46

37. #891 What to Do With Your Book After It is Published.

You always wanted to write book. Now you've done. It is published and you can just sit back, right? Nope! Nancy Erickson says there is so much more you can do with the content of your book to expand your authority and credibility even further. For example, if you have written the book correctly each chapter can stand on its own as a topic for a keynote, workshop or online course.

Aug 10,2023 10:26

38. #890 What Type of Networking Animal Are You?

Did you miss this conversation with Rochelle Groh about networking animals? She suggests the next time you go to a networking event, look for the four types of networking animals. The shark, who is ready to take a bite out of every conversationThe penguin who typically gravitates to the same people at every eventThe bee who knows everyone in the room The lone wolf who prefers longer, more one on one conversations. About Rochelle GrohRochelle is the Co-Founder of Cutclass and the host of the Al

Aug 08,2023 11:05

39. #889 Do you Know What a Customer is Really Worth?

One of the critical elements of building a marketing budget is understanding what a customer is worth. Why? Because you can't decide how much to spend to acquire that customer if you don't really know the value of that customer.Too often business owners make the mistake of looking at what the customer is spending today and see that is the only value of the customer. But, if you're in a business where customers come back time and time again, you need to look at the total picture to determine th

Aug 06,2023 01:17

40. #888 The Future of Content Marketing

Content marketing has been around for a really long time. And it is probably going to be around for a lot longer. But as new tools arise, many people wonder what the future of content marketing going to be like. Professional writer and a humorist, Erik Deckers joined me to share his thoughts on that topic. He explained content marketing has be around a lot longer than most of us imagine. Archeologists have recovered Papyrus and carvings showing things for sale. While content marketing has ev

Aug 03,2023 10:13

41. #887 Improve Your Closing Rate

One of the most important numbers in your business is your closing rate. The simple metrics tells you how well you are performing when face to face with a potential customer. The better your closing rate is the better your business. Guest Bruce Scheer shares some of the mistakes companies make as they try to improve their closing rate: Jumping immediately to price changes .While that may work in the short term it will hurt in the long term as you race competitors to the bottom of the market. Ran

Aug 01,2023 12:00

42. #886 I am my Brand

Like many business owners I defined myself as the founder of my company, Roundpeg. Lorraine Ball and Roundpeg were intricately linked. The fact that the business was originally an outgrowth of my personality got lost along the way.I became an outgrowth of the business. That was fine for 20 years until I sold Roundpeg. Suddenly that cornerstone of my brand was gone. So I've spent the last two years realigning, adjusting and figuring out who I am and what my brand is.The funny thing is that I h

Jul 30,2023 01:31

43. #885 Simple Tricks to Improve Your Public Speaking

If you've been listening to More than a Few Words for any length of time you know I was born talking. Standing in front of a group of people or facing a microphone is not uncomfortable for me.But it is for many people. Public speaking anxiety is a crippler for some people and can get in the way of careers and businesses. Guest Rebecca Jabbar says the key to getting comfortable is to personalize the message with two very simply pieces of information explaining why you care about a particular to

Jul 27,2023 11:05

44. #884 Google Can’t Read

From our archive is a terrific conversation with Kyle Roof about SEO. In it he addressed some common misperceptions about Google. For example, many people think Google reads a web page as a human would. Google is not able to do that, it isn't pulling meaning from your content. It is an algorithm looking at your content not from an editorial quality perspective, but a mathematical one looking to see if you check off the boxes in the formula. About Kyle RoofKyle is responsible for the develo

Jul 26,2023 10:46

45. #883 Maybe You Should Buy a Business

As business owners try to grow their business they assume they have to do it organically. The problem with the organic approach is you have to be patient. It takes time for the business to mature and grow. But that is not the only way to grow. Your path to success might include merging with another company or acquiring a business. Deb Curtis, an expert in SBA-Supported Business Acquisition Loans & Smooth Ownership Transitions shares a few tips and things to consider before you jump into acquis

Jul 25,2023 10:49

46. #882 Improve Your Listening Skills

I had the strangest phone call the other day. It was from someone I have known for a long time. I wouldn't call us friends, but our paths have crossed multiple times over the years so we are acquainted. We chatted for a few minutes. He told me he had moved to Florida. I mentioned I sold my company and I am enjoying the slower pace.He barely acknowledged what I said and proceeded to launch into a pitch on his new venture. Unfortunately, I have no interest since, as I told him, I sold my agency.By

Jul 23,2023 01:56

47. #881 Hop Into the Mailbox

When I started my agency in 2002, clients and friends called me the Postcard Queen. I was working with small businesses and postcards were a wonderful way to get noticed. Then along came email marketing and social media. Direct mail seemed cumbersome and old fashioned in comparison.Travis Lee suggests as everyone has rushed towards digital it is no longer the bargain it once was. With auction style bidding for advertising the cost of click has increased dramatically, while the return has drop

Jul 20,2023 10:42

48. #880 Stop Spiraling Toward Burnout

There is a cycle business owners get trapped in as they start to spiral toward burnout. Coach Linsi Brownson says the first thing you need to do is recognize, you’re not doing anything wrong. This is just a phase in your business.This is actually a really great moment to step back and realign the business, by going back to the drawing board and looking at three things: yourself, your business position and your operations.LOOK AT YOURSELFTake time to understand your energy capacity What do you

Jul 19,2023 10:59

49. #879 Make Chat GPT Work For You

These days everyone is talking about Chat Gpt Ai driven content. I find some people are either really excited about it. Then there are others who are afraid we are the cusp of some dystopian world where the machines take over and we become their slaves.Which is more accurate? Well that is up to you, but Chat GPT is changing how content is created so you need to know how to use the tools.My guest Jules Dan seems to have cracked the code with Chat Gpt and it boils down to three simple steps: Clo

Jul 18,2023 09:38

50. #878 Go Where Your Customers Are

You have to go where your customers areSocial media is about engagement. This is something businesses forget when they start to use it as a broadcast tool. Just because you’re posting information out there doesn’t mean that anyone is actually paying attention.So one of the most important things you can do to get the most out of your social media is to pay attention to your engagement numbers. Are people liking, sharing and commenting on your content? Are they interacting with you?If they’re not

Jul 16,2023 01:28

51. #877 Be a Great Podcast Guest

So you want to be a podcast guest. Before you start reaching out to potential shows my guest, Joe Matz suggests you need to start with Why do you want to be a podcast guest.There are a number of reasons. Some people, have just launched a book and they want to do a virtual book tour. Others want to get their authority positioning out there. Joe also mentioned, SEO because when you're on a podcast, you get links back to your website. So the podcast increases your backlinks. Other reasons might in

Jul 13,2023 11:29

52. #876 The Marketing Path

From our archive. This conversation with Sharyn and Hank Yuloff was originally released in August of 2021. If you missed it then you are in for a treat. This was a fun, lively conversation about the marketing path. As you drive down the road, you have to be ready to make small adjustments. The same is true for your marketing.This week's guests, Sharyn and Hank Yuloff, think you need to stop thinking about your marketing as if the plan was carved in stone. Instead, you should view it as a pa

Jul 12,2023 11:01

53. #875 Common Startup Mistakes

I would love to tell you that out of the gate I was a business genius and everything I did in marketing worked perfectly. Well that's not true. We all make mistakes along the way, but when we learn from them we have a better shot at success.And if we can get out ahead of some of those mistakes, by learning from what other business owners are doing wrong we can shorten the cycle to success.In this conversation with Lori Highby, we discuss the three most common mistakes new business owners make a

Jul 11,2023 10:13

54. #874It is ok to change direction

We’ve all had that marketing brainstorm sitting alone at a desk. It sounds like a good idea so you bounce it off other people. everybody excitedly supports the concept. You execute it the best that you can, but it doesn’t work out they way you planned. You should give up, but you’ve built this whole program so you double down and you keep pushing and pushing.Eventually you have to accept it wasn’t as good an idea as you thought. It is always painful when you realize you have made a mistake, but

Jul 09,2023 02:33

55. #873 Become a Better Public Speaker

Getting up in front of an audience and speaking is how I make a living. Even if that's not your career goal you need to be a good public speaker. Whether you're standing up in front of an audience or one-on-one with an employee or a customer at the heart of each of those interactions are your communication skills.In this episode, Brenden Kumarasamy joined me for a conversation on how everyone can improve their communication skills. He started by explaining that good communication is like juggli

Jul 06,2023 10:03

56. #872 The Reason for Being

From our archive. This conversation with Mike Wittenstein was originally released in August 2021. If you missed it then, you should definitely check it out now. Why does your business exist? If you answered to make money, you are missing the point. That may be why your own a business, but the business exists to create value for your customers.As you define your reason to exist consider, the value you create, who you create it for, and what the customer will ultimately do with your product

Jul 05,2023 11:06

57. #871 The Complete Offer

You have a great product. That's wonderful. But a product by itself is not enough to guarantee success. Shaun McAndrew believes you need to build a complete offer where you integrate a combination of the product, be it hardware and or software, with the technology, the internet of things, AI and machine learning, with the data analytics and services needed to build a single package that aligns to customer outcomes. About Shaun McAndrewShaun is a Navy Veteran, the VP of Business Development for T

Jul 04,2023 11:06

58. #870 Things go Wrong

Let’s face it, sometimes mistakes happen and things go wrong. How you handle the situation will often determine whether your smallest mistake becomes a big crisis Even if you can’t predict what will go wrong, having a plan in place outlining specific steps in case of a mistake will make it easier to respond. This is true in the real world or on social media, where your Twitter or Facebook page can absolutely blow up.Keep these things in mind as you develop your crisis management plan Appoint a t

Jul 02,2023 02:00

59. #869 Stop and Read This

These days so many people are hot on social media and whatever the new platform is this week. But Nicole Krug says that year after year email marketing works. It has a 400% return on investment and that has been consistent for many years. One of the reasons is email is more personal than social media. You have been invited into the inbox.Now the trick is getting people to open your email once you land there. Data suggests only about 20% of emails are opened, so in this conversation Nicole sha

Jun 29,2023 12:13

60. #868 To Reply or Not to Reply

Maybe you think that when someone says something negative you shouldn't dignify their comment with a reply. According to David Oates, that's actually not the best strategy. The reality is everybody, right or wrong tends to have the same weight and credibility in a social media post or an online review. Now that rubs most of us the wrong way particularly when we get criticism from somebody who may not have ever been a customer or who had realistic expectations when they walked in our virtual or a

Jun 27,2023 11:18

61. #867 Home Court Advantage

Athletes love to play on their home court. Being intimately familiar with every square inch of the field is reassuring, and the supportive crowd gives them the confidence to play their best.In a way, the same is true in sales. If you can get a customer to come to your office or showroom, you’ve already scored the first point. Unfortunately, many home service businesses such as heating and air conditioning, plumbing, landscaping or roofing rarely have the opportunity of selling on their turf, so

Jun 25,2023 03:33

62. #866 On the Road to Mastering Your Marketing Message

It is often said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That is definitely true on the journey to master your marketing message. In this conversation Tracey Watts Cirino and I explored the first steps you need to take on your journey to master your marketing message. 1 - Get clear on who you will serve. You can not serve everyone. When we try to be for everyone we end up being for enough for no one This doesn't mean you're not going to do different types of things for di

Jun 22,2023 11:28

63. #865 Affordable Research Tactics

In this episode I had a chance to chat with Alison K about research. I know you're sitting there saying I already know everything about my business. Well guess what, you don't! So you need to listen to this short and lively conversation about affordable ways you can conduct market research to make better decisions about your business.Alison explains as businesses owners, especially in service area know the end goal it to make the sale. We know our target clients and their pain points. We alre

Jun 20,2023 11:23

64. #864 Podcast Tips, Tools and Tricks

After 13 years of podcasting, I have found tools I rely on. My two favorites are Podmatch - It is kind of like a dating application. Instead of finding dates I use it to book podcast interviews on high profile shows and interesting guests . And now, they have rolled out a new feature that allows me to get paid to host guests on my show. Learn more at : https://www.joinpodmatch.com/mtfwFor recording interviews, I love Zencastr It is a great all in one tool. Audio only or audio and video are p

Jun 18,2023 02:57

65. #863 Measurement vs Attribution

Jennifer Denney is obsessed with measurement and marketing data. She believes you can't improve what you don't measure. But there are a lot of challenges for marketers right now, as they try to measure the effectiveness of a particular type of marketing, Recent changes from Apple have cut off all apps from being able to know what happens after you click on a ad and leave their site. And there is more data loss coming in July 2023 with the changes to Google Analytics.Trying to map individual cu

Jun 15,2023 09:54

66. #862 Stand, Stagger, Fall

Have you ever done something for the first time, without prior knowledge and been able to achieve success? If so, you’re truly unique. Most humans find themselves meeting new challenges with a series of frustrations and failures. Imagine an infant as they decide to walk for the first time, they stand up then they stagger and inevitably they fall. To become consistent walkers they repeat the stand-stagger-fall cycle for a few weeks or months.This pattern of stand-stagger-fall is repeated througho

Jun 13,2023 10:40

67. #861 Go Negative to Get Attention

If your blog titles don't grab reader's attention, they're not going to read your blog posts. While it might seem that people want to see something positive in these challenging times, surprisingly negative titles work better.Look at the newsfeed on Twitter or Facebook or LinkedIn. Posts with negative titles stand out and are more likely to be read, create engagement and be shared.So, I want you to commit to not boring readers with weak language in your subject line. If you start your blog post

Jun 11,2023 01:39

68. #860 The Perfect Podcast Pitch

Would you like to be a guest on a podcast? If so, you want to pay attention to what Kelly Mosser has to say about pitches.The biggest mistake most potential guest make is the emphasis of the pitch. The message boils down to "I want airtime on your show. Here's why I deserve it. Here's why you should give it to me." This one-sided approach misses the key detail that podcasts are a business collaboration. When you focus on what you can get, and what the audience might take away, the host and the

Jun 08,2023 11:32

69. #859 Better Content in Three Easy Steps

According to Stacey Hall when we create marketing content it should not be about our products and services. So stop talking about your products and focus on how you solve problems. She has a simple three step process to help you do just that.1) Start with a question that is relevant to your customer and their problem2) Explain what causes the problem3) Provide the solution to your problem. Great content is just that easy. Stacey is one of the contributing authors in MORE THAN A FEW WRITTEN WOR

Jun 06,2023 11:49

70. #858 Ego Drives Social Media

Social media is all about ego. No matter how many followers and fans you have, it’s always fun to see a new follower, a retweet, or reply, like, love or share.All of those things signal to us that we’ve been accepted and esteemed by the community. And that feeling of acceptance is really one of the most basic human needs.When you are using social media for business. Your objective is to make other people feel that way. If you spend the majority of your time on social media, liking and commenting

Jun 04,2023 01:32

71. #857 A Great Bio Makes People Want to Get to Know You.

Many potential customers read your bio to figure out who you are, and what it is going to be like to work with you. Danielle Hughes believes you need to give them a sense of who you are as a person instead of a litany of tasks and accomplishments. That task list doesn't help them start the conversation with you or get to know you in any way.When somebody reads your bio and then meets you or they has a conversation with you. it should be the exact same person. They shouldn't feel that there's

Jun 01,2023 10:59

72. #856 Take your business to the next level

During the pandemic many people started businesses and even more are sitting in a corporate role right now thinking you're going to start a business and leave the 9 to 5 behind. That's all great, but when the elation of the start up phase is over, you need to be able to sustain that new business through the long run.Anna Lundberg suggests you need to start with your "why". If you are not clear about why you do what you do, what you want to accomplish as a person and a business it will be hard t

May 30,2023 11:18

73. #855 To Meme or Not to Meme

If you’ve been using social media for any length of time, you’ve probably seen your share of memes. What makes memes popular is the way they give people a common topic or trend to make jokes about. This creates a community as the meme is expanded and shared. People love memes, but what about brands? Are they invited to the party? That is a question every social media manager grapples with at some point. The answer is more complicated than you think. Why? Because memes move quickly. What’s funny

May 28,2023 01:55

74. #854 How Introverts Network

I'm an extrovert. I love people. I love being around people and talking to people. But there are a whole bunch of people, introverts, who really don't enjoy interacting they way I do. Here's the trick, you've got to be able to reach both of those audiences. And if you're an introvert you have to learn how to participate in the world.This week's guest Amanda Watts share some great tips on how introverts can be effective, and maybe even enjoy of networking.It stars with understanding where you

May 25,2023 12:45

75. #853 - Lessons from a Networking Junkie

I have a confession to make. I am a networking junkie. I love getting out in meeting people. Unlike people with other addictions, I'm not looking for a cure for my networking addiction, because I think it's healthy for my business.There are lots of business owners who don't necessarily love networking and many don't even know where to start. That's why I've taught hundreds and hundreds of business owners the tricks to improving their networking skills. I have also written a book on the subject

May 23,2023 14:03

76. #852 Google Doesn’t Buy From You

It is time for a Content Based SEO approach. You probably don’t want to hear this. I’m going to do it SEO wrong. You’re spending all your time focused on what search engines want, worrying about stuffing your pages with keywords, inbound links, and outbound links.Search engines don’t buy from you, people doSo I want you to think about SEO differently. Start focusing on content that answers questions real people have about your product and service. If you do that, and you do that, well, the sear

May 21,2023 00:58

77. #851 The Testimonial Interview

Everyone knows testimonials are a powerful sales tool, so why don't more businesses have them? According to guest, John Hubbard the biggest reason is they don't ask. And even when they do, customers fail to follow through on the promise to write one. If you want testimonials, you need to make it easy for customers to give them. That's why he developed the testimonial interview. LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS PROCESS About John HubbardJohn Hubbard is a business consultant, mentor and strategic advisor

May 18,2023 12:38

78. #850 Next Level Entrepreneur

As a business owner there were things I had to do that I absolutely loved and there were other things that really pushed me outside my comfort zone. My business was successful because I developed skills in both those areas. And that's what I talked to Alex Brueckmann about in this episode.Alex explained: We often grow into our roles as business owners from a starting point of Knowledge. We've done something for awhile and we know it very well so we think we could build a business around that. W

May 16,2023 10:56

79. #849 Sometimes You Need to Shout A Little

When you were little, your parents probably told you to use an inside voice because it wasn't polite to shout.We've all been there, in a crowded room and you want to get someone's attention. Sometimes you have to shout or raise your voice a little bit to get noticed.Well, the internet is a lot like a crowded room when you're competing with so many other messages. To get the attention of visitors to your website, you have to shout a little bit. Online you shout visually. If you're putting a call

May 14,2023 01:19

80. #848 Write a Book

There's a perception that authors are more credible experts than people who are not authors. Kim Thompson Pinder thinks it is just a perception and not necessarily true. But why not go with the perception?There are however, lots of gurus out there teaching you to write a book and business will fall into your lap. It is not quite that easy, but a book can be an incredible marketing and credibility tool you can use to generate leads.About Kim Thompson-Pinder – The Extraordinary Word Ninja, Chief

May 11,2023 11:07

81. #847 Email Works, Let It Work For You

I am an email marketing fan so I was excited to invite Kendra Corman to join me for a conversation on how to make email marketing effective. She started by explaining why email is so important. Sure it is great to build a community on social media, but what will you do if Facebook goes down or cuts off your profile. You are stuck. But if you have email addresses, you own those contacts and can take them wherever you want.You have the flexibility to contact them when you want and to share info

May 09,2023 11:59

82. #846 A Little Help From Your Friends

I don't ask for help very often. Maybe it's my personality I like to present this very competent, successful exterior. But the truth is everybody needs help from time to time.So today I have a request. My podcast has hit a plateau and I need your help to reach a wider audience.Follow the link https://.com/us/podcast/more-than-a-few-words/id438174063?mt=2 . If you like what you hear subscribe and leave a reviewIf it's really not for you, but you but we're friends and you want to help, feel free t

May 07,2023 01:09

83. #845 Manage Your Inbox

Stop for a minute and think about your inbox I know as soon as I said that that was that little pain in your stomach because you know there’s a lot of clutter there. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this conversation, David David Forman of Clarity Creative Group shares some simple tricks to tame the inbox beast. My favorite tips is the creative use of filters to screen irrelevant messages, and cluster important ones together.

May 04,2023 09:45

84. #844 What Marketing Can’t Do

Wouldn’t it be great if your marketing could get people to buy from you? Unfortunately, as my guest Chris Hoyt explains, that’s not how marketing works. What can marketing do?Marketing can help people know you exist. It can communicate your valueIt can give people an incentive to try your services or your productsAnd most of all it can help you listen to your customers.

May 02,2023 12:09

85. #843 It is All About Attitude

Today, I want to talk about your attitude, and how it can drive action. Why this topic now?Let's face it, there are lots of things in the world which distract and impact us as individuals. And as business owners. There are things we can't control, but we can control how those things make us feel, and how we react in response.There is power in a positive attitude. Ask any doctor about a patient who live long after all the medical treatments have been exhausted. Patients have been known to will th

Apr 30,2023 01:41

86. #842 Don’t Scale Too Fast

Everyone who starts a business thinks it's going to grow and grow. They assume the growth will be wonderful as it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. My guest, Andrej Persolja suggests that may not be the best course of action, because many new businesses are not ready to grow. Growth comes with pains, and you have to have your infrastructure in place to withstand some of the pain. You need to have a clear definition of your target customer, the kind of projects you want, and the ones you don't

Apr 27,2023 09:30

87. #841 Do Not Trust Your Gut

If you are like most business owners you have developed a skill for making gut decisions. But my guest Dr. Gleb Tsipursky thinks that might just be the wrong way to approach your business decisions. The author of multiple articles and several books on the subject, including his new one. Never Go With Your Gut, in which he presents a logical and easy to follow alternative. Listen to learn his five easy steps to improving your ability to make decisions on the fly.

Apr 25,2023 09:32

88. #840 Plans are Living Breathing Documents

If you've just finished working on your business plan, you probably think okay I'm done. I can put it on the shelf and get on with the rest of my business.If that's what you're thinking, you've missed the entire point of the planning process. A good business plan is never done. You're always adding to it, making changes, scribbling out information and writing stuff in the margins. Your plan should be a living breathing document that grows as your business grows.At least once a year you should s

Apr 23,2023 01:10

89. #839 Write Copy that Converts

There are lots of good reasons to create content for your website, social media and email newsletter. In this episode, Lorraine chats with Louis Dalton about how to write content for a very specific purpose, converting prospects and strangers into customers. Content created for this point in your sales process needs to focus on short benefits and results. People don't want to wait six months to lose 30 pounds. The are however likely to be excited about losing 5 pounds this week. The trick is t

Apr 20,2023 11:11

90. #838 Marketing Success is Not a Fairy Tale

Once upon a time marketers ran television commercials and put ads in newspapers and simply waited for the phone to ring. But that was a long time ago. It was so long ago that it seems like a fairy tale, an expensive fairy tale at that.Today, consumers fast forward through ads and change the station on their radio. They don’t want to be interrupted by your marketing. They want to be free to look for information at their own pace as they browse and search online.And they’re not just looking for c

Apr 16,2023 01:38

91. #837 Simplified SEO

I know you think we've talked SEO to death, but the field keeps changing and there are different approaches. My guest Meg Casebolt explains many people think think SEO is incredibly complex and you need to have an expensive team come in to fix your website for it. They also assume you must produce boatloads of content to be successful.She doesn't think either of those things is true. Today, the trick is not quantity, but content which clearly defines who you serve and how you help that audienc

Apr 13,2023 11:11

92. #836 More than One Reason to Buy

In this encore episode, we talk about how to use the frustrations, fears, wants and aspirations or your audience, as the foundation of your marketing. You have probably heard multiple times you need to start your sales process by defining your niche because when you do, you can create more relevant content. But our guest Leon Streete, says just defining the “who” is not enough. The demographics only gives you half of the picture. The second part, which is usually the most important part, is t

Apr 11,2023 11:18

93. #835 The Business Plan Review

Once you're done writing your business plan, pulling together all the numbers, charts and other information the most important thing you can do is share it with other people. Reach out to the smartest people you know, even if they're not in your industry and get their feedback. Share it with your employees and with your family because they're going to be involved in supporting you as you implement your plan. They need to know what you're planning on doing to they can help you create the business

Apr 09,2023 01:10

94. #834 Use Email to Build Trust With Your Audience

Most people think about email marketing as a sales tool. But my guest, Jeff Felten thinks it is so much more. Email can play a valuable role as a way to build trust and relationships with your audience. He believes trust is the currency of business. Without it people don't make buying decisions. So your sales process needs to start with trust. One of the best ways to build trust is with social proof. When you can demonstrate what you have done for others with case studies and testimonials, it

Apr 06,2023 11:48

95. #833 - Smart Pricing Starts in The Mind of Your Customer

What is the right price for your product or service? Most business owners struggle with this question because they confuse the cost of producing the product, with the value that it brings to the customer. Establishing prices for your goods or services relatively little to do with what it costs you to make it. The real value is how much you help your customers save, increase, reduce or improve .If you can quantify those benefits then you have a foundation for establishing an appropriate price fo

Apr 02,2023 01:14

96. #832 Sales is a People Business.

Returning guest Ross Keating says that sales is a people business. While people may say it is the product or the features, it ultimately comes down to people and how well you connect. The more you understand about your customers, the easier it is to connect. And Ross shared how using the BANKCODE method can help you do just that. The simple assessment takes less than 90 seconds to help you discover your Bank Profile based on what you value. Listen to the conversation, then take the assessment

Mar 29,2023 12:08

97. #831 Escaping the Hustle with Matthew Turner

In this encore episode, our guest, author Matthew Turner doesn’t think owning a business needs to feel like your are on a treadmill running hard, and never reaching your goal In his book Beyond the Pale, he explains that many of us think we own a business, but somehow it starts to own us.When you make a decision to work less, if forces you to think about who do you want to work with? If you have to choose a type of client what does that client look like? If you are going to choose one personal

Mar 28,2023 10:51

98. #830 Reward Yourself

While I think business goals are important, there is more to life than checking things off your list. If you never stop and celebrate the win, it all becomes really tedious. So find a way to reward yourself, when you actually achieve your goal. It doesn't have to be a big deal. It doesn't have to be very expensive.Pick something that's a little treat or a little reward that will make the moment special. For me, it might be going to visit a friend and then taking a photograph of us together so th

Mar 26,2023 01:29

99. #829 The Marketing Flywheel with Josh Ramsey

What is the marketing flywheel? A real flywheel, that builds energy, as you push it slowly over time it gets faster and faster and faster. A marketing flywheel will do that as well. With consistent action, the marketing flywheel will deliver more and more results. Out guest, Josh Ramsey explains there are three parts to the marketing flywheel that work together to accelerate your business.Building memories so customers think of you when they are ready to buyMaximizing availability so customers

Mar 23,2023 12:49

100. #828 - What’s In Your Sales Plan

It would be wonderful if you just hung a sign out, opened your doors and customers came. Unfortunately, for most of us that's not how it works. You don't accidentally bump into business on a regular basis.If you want a sustainable business you need to have a sustainable process for your sales. That process includes a standard procedure to generate leads and then screen and identify who's a good prospect and who's not. You need to have a process for stepping people through a sales conversa

Mar 19,2023 01:21

101. #827 Smart PPC for Small Businesses

Maybe you think your business is too small to take advantage of PPC. Our guest, Ameet Khabra doesn't think that is true. You can use this powerful tool as long as remember that Google is not doing something out of the goodness of their heart. Google is not a charity, it is a business. Everything they do to improve search and analytics is ultimately designed to increase their advertising sales. So use the tools, look at their suggestions, but always remember their goals are not always aligned

Mar 16,2023 11:43

102. #826 Contingency Planning

I am an optimist. I believe things will work out. However, when it comes to my business I also know that things can go wrong, and planning is not being negative, it is being prepared. Accidents happen. Even minor mishaps can be major catastrophes for small business owners. Every year, thousands of companies are unprepared for the interruption caused by a minor fire, flood, and burglary or computer meltdown.Creating, and implementing a Business Continuity Plan as part of your overall business pl

Mar 12,2023 02:09

103. #825 Emotion Driven Marketing

In this episode we chatted with Jan Cavelle about connecting your emotions to your marketing, and more importantly, connecting to your customer's emotions. How do you do that? Jan suggests you start by being consistent about the picture of yourself you are putting forward in public, both in person and on social media. This helps people frame a firm picture of who you are allowing them to connect to you and your brand. More than a Few Words is a marketing conversation for business owners hoste

Mar 09,2023 10:30

104. #824 From Our Archive - The Elevator Pitch

From our archive: You have only a few moments to make that great first impression and you won’t stand out by sounding like everyone else. You need to find a way to be first, best or different. And if you choose different, make sure your point of difference is actually relevant to your customer. Beyond that first impression, our guest Mike Verret explains that your words will have an effect on others, so choose them carefully. Mike solves problems that plague small businesses by giving them a

Mar 07,2023 16:03

105. #823 Capacity

I spent the early part of my career in manufacturing. One of the most important lessons I learned was that of capacity. When you know how much you can produce you can set realistic targets for your our sales team, making sure they don't sell more than you could produce.At the same time you don't want them selling so far below your capacity you are sitting around twiddling your thumbs.Understanding your capacity is gives you tremendous control over your pricing. If you're bumping up against you

Mar 05,2023 01:18

106. #822 Influencer Marketing

Influencers, people who have a following comprised of people who pay attention to who they are and what they do can help you deliver your message. In this episode, Madison Masterson explains how those people can impact your marketing, even if you have a small business. You may not be able to afford a celebrity for your brad, but that doesn't mean you can't find someone who has influence with your audience to tell your story. About MadisonAt the age of twenty five, Madison Masterson has created M

Mar 02,2023 11:24

107. #821 Man Vs Machine

With all of the emphasis on A.I. driven content, search and advertising, the question is how will human beings survive.Like any good sci-fi, the answer lies in human innovation. It is in our ability to think outside the box and not follow the rules that is the essence of a smart content marketing strategy.Sure you can do what everyone else is doing or you can create innovative, independent. and individualized content to help you survive the rise of the machine.

Feb 26,2023 01:05

108. #820 ABC’s of Sales

Stacey Hall wants to shift your paradigm on the role of the salesperson. She believes traditional, old school techniques of always closing and working to overcome objections just aren't the best approach for the majority of salespeople and their customers. Instead, she has developed a new approach she calls the ABC's of selling : Alignment, Belief and Consistency. About Stacey Stacey has coached thousands of entrepreneurs on how to attract sales, satisfaction, and success. She is a bestselling

Feb 23,2023 10:58

109. #819 The Rise of A.I.

I a sci-fi geek. As a kid I discovered Isaac Asimov's stories of good robots who were driven by a code driving them to helpful an supportive of human beings and dystopian sci-fi with the rise of evil machines that take over the world.As I'm evaluating the emergence of A.I. in content creation, advertising and search I'm trying to decide are we in the era of Isaac Asimov's good robots or there dystopian terminator? Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum it is clear, A.I will dramatically c

Feb 19,2023 01:28

110. #818 Business Personalities

I have often been told that I have a strong personality and it kind of came through in my business but I never really thought about the fact that all businesses have personality.Guest Naomi Garza talks about the importance of including ourselves in our business strategy. So many business schools teach us to get to know our ideal customers and competitors but none that I've seen start the process of looking at ourselves first - how can our businesses thrive based on what works for US as well as

Feb 16,2023 11:36

111. #817 Storming the Castle

From our archive - Originally broadcast on 2/14/2020 enjoy this encore conversation with Matt Nettleton. Sometimes, as a sales person heads out to make cold calls, it feels like they are trying to storm a castle. They prepare to battle their way in the door. My coach, sales professional Matt Nettleton says it doesn't have to be that way.Armed with a series of strategic questions, and a willingness to really listen to the answers, a sales person can actually encourage prospects to lower their d

Feb 14,2023 12:01

112. #816 Match Your Products to Customer Needs

As you start working on the product portion of your overall business plan do not start with the features. Go back to your customer research. What is most important to your customers? Focus on the elements of your product or service that line up with those needs. Demonstrate how the features that you are selecting for your product or service help you achieve something customers are going to buy because it solves their problemThis can be everything from the physical product, to the warranty, to

Feb 12,2023 01:39

113. #815 Building Relationships on LinkedIn

When it comes down to closing, people buy from people. So before you can make a sale, you almost always need a relationship. In B2B sales one of the best places to build that relationship is on LinkedIn. Relationship pro, Janice Porter shares some of her favorite relationship building strategies. She believes LinkedIn is underutilized by many sales professionals, who miss the opportunity to make quality connections by interacting authentically on the platform. Janice is a returning guest

Feb 07,2023 11:10

114. #814 Your Customer is More than Numbers

One of the things that I love and hate about marketing is the research which allows you to describe your ideal client in very quantitative terms like age, income and level of education. I love this because if gives you a starting point for your marketing. The thing I don't love is that it puts people in very narrow boxes. Too often we lose sight of the fact that our target customers are more than just numbers. Beyond the demographic segments there is a psychological element. It is these psychol

Feb 05,2023 01:57

115. #813 Simple Video Tips

We are living in a video world. Our guest Chris Weiher thinks video should be in the tool kit of every small business. The mistake he thinks many business owners make is thinking they need to commit to video forever, and forever is intimidating. Instead, he says start small and learn as you go.

Feb 02,2023 11:27

116. #812 Help Your Competitors

I am sure you think this headline is a mistake, that I meant to say something else, but I really mean this. If you want to build a successful business in a vibrant marketplace, you will grow faster if you help your competitors. Before you decide I am completely crazy, consider the following:You don’t know everything. Hanging around with other business owners in the same industry gives you a chance to learn a few things in exchange for sharing a few tips of your own.Improve the quality and perce

Jan 29,2023 03:05

117. #811 Give Google Information About Your Business

Google wants you to succeed and in this conversation with Stormy Knight, we talk about what they're doing to help you do just that.Remember that Google's main product is great search results. While they have some of the most comprehensive data bases in the world, they may not have the detailed information about your business. Your Google My Business Profile helps fill in some of the blanks that makes it easy for Google to present your company when people are looking for a business like yours. .

Jan 26,2023 11:32

118. #810 Match Your Marketing To Your Goals

How do you decide which marketing tactics to try? Megan Prejzner says you should start with business goals in mind. Boil it all down to the ones which are going to move your business goals forward and forward the fastest. Don't be overwhelmed by choices and then wind up doing nothing because of analysis paralysis. Look at your business, get clear on what you are trying to achieve and select the one tactic which can be the most efficient in moving you toward your end goal

Jan 24,2023 11:24

119. #809 Three Types of Competitors

Even new, completely innovative products have competition. Long before your product comes into the market, customers have found ways to solve their problems. Understanding who your real competitors are is critical to your business success. As you analyze your competitors, it can be helpful to think about the three levels of competition.Level One. These companies solve the customer’s problem with products or services that are very similar to yours. While you may have enhanced features or slightly

Jan 22,2023 01:32

120. #808 Brand Elements

While you don't want to change your brand frequently, guest Amanda Guerassio suggests there are signs you are ready for a refresh. If you designed your logo yourself when you started your business, and the branding suite just isn't as professional as you would likeYour business has changed direction or target and the design suite no longer reflects you companyThe brand relied on "trendy" colors, fonts or styles that were cool when the brand was launched but is somewhat dated now.

Jan 19,2023 11:09

121. #807 Sales Starts with a Real Conversation

I know you think you are a business owner not a salesperson but everybody really is a salesperson. In this conversation with Tracey Beavers we explored ways you can create sales without "selling"She suggests you start by being yourself. The reason no one likes to think of themselves as a salesperson because there are so many bad salespeople out there. They're aggressive, spammy, weird. and annoying. They make us uncomfortable and we don't want to feel that way. She says take the word sales out

Jan 17,2023 12:32

122. #806 Do The Research

Too often inventors and entrepreneurs fall in love with their idea. Just because it can be built, does not mean it should be. Before you launch your business, you need to answer a really important questions. Does anyone really want your product? That’s where research comes in helping you determine how many individuals or businesses have a need for your product or service and, more important, how many are likely to buy?History is full of well-designed, extremely innovative products that were co

Jan 15,2023 01:45

123. #805 Start Up Technology

Many small business owners startup a business or launch a product with little or no budget. I asked successful founder, Jason Hubbard about some of the mistakes businesses make when they jump into the game. He told me the biggest mistake people make jumping in is underestimating how long it will take to get to a place where it is actually a sustainable business. The underestimate how long that's going to take, how much runway they will need and the amount of blood sweat and tears that go into

Jan 12,2023 12:26

124. #804 Secure Your Business

Small business owners, particularly solo entrepreneurs often forget that their personal and business on-line security are tightly intertwined. Guest Josh Summers says that a focus on security begins by separating yourself from your business. For example many people will register their company with their home address. Unfortunately, that address becomes part of the public record, for years and years. Changing it down the road can be costly and time consuming. He advocates for separating the a

Jan 10,2023 11:14

125. #803 Business Plan Myths

If you're a smart traveler you know can't head out on a long road trip without some kind of map or directions. Without that there's a chance you'll get lost, drive in the wrong direction, show up late or never actually arrive.When it comes to driving your business your map is your business plan. Now I know lots of business owners put off writing a formal plan because they think it's going to be difficult, time consuming and unproductive. Well none of that is true.Your plan can be a simple outli

Jan 08,2023 01:37

126. #802 Mentorship

In this episode we talk about mentors, how to find one and how to be one. Why? Because even if we think that we're running our business' completely on our own it helps to have people to turn to for advice and information.Guest, and today my guest Kate Chernis Bradley, Founder & CEO of Lately shared some of the lessons learned from her mentors over the years. For example, when giving feedback, remember your goals isn't to ruin someone's day. So think about the outcome you want from the conversati

Jan 05,2023 11:19

127. #801Favorites of 2022

Before we roll in 2023, I thought it would be fun to go back and revisit some of my favorite podcast interviews from last year. With more than 125 to choose from, this was no small feat. But I think you're really going to like the episodes I've pulled together.There’s a conversation I had with Laura Templeton about networking conversations. As you know, I love a good networking event. I love a chance to get out and talk to people. But I know that not everybody loves that process or even knows wh

Jan 03,2023 10:00

128. #800 Happy Anniversary More than a Few Words

“Welcome to More than a Few Words, a marketing conversation for business owners. This is your host Lorraine Ball. “I have a version of that phrase hundreds of times over the last thirteen years. Yes, today is actually the thirteenth year anniversary of this podcast. As I get ready to embark on another year of podcasting, I thought it would be fun to share a few things I’ve learned along the way that are relevant for podcasters, and really any marketing professional.Your name matters. Whether yo

Jan 01,2023 03:51

129. #799 Generate New Sales From Old Clients

What is the fastest least expensive way to get clients? Guest, Gall Doby suggests there is one strategy that people often ignore, and it's right in front of them. Looking for new sales? Start with your current clients. Almost every single client ( assuming you are doing a good job) will be willing to do business with you in a different way. Maybe it is an add-on to their project, a few more things and they hadn't originally considered or an entirely different project. It's so much easier to go

Dec 29,2022 10:51

130. #798 Getting Lost

My favorite day on my most recent vacation was the day we got lost. We had an idea of what we wanted to do but we made a wrong turn. Instead of worrying about it we simply embraced the chaos. We stumbled upon a great art exhibit and a delicious restaurant.The lesson from that day came back to my business with me. I have very specific goals and clear outline of what I want to do on a regular basis but I decided to embrace a little chaos. I spent some time exploring lots of new things I hadn't

Dec 25,2022 01:18

131. #797 Authenticity Matters

In this episode, I chat with Sasha Willis about authenticity and why it is so important to be authentic in all of your content and branding. Sasha advocates for showing up as yourself because people really tune into that. It is especially true when it comes to business interactions. People want to feel they know who they are working with and who they're paying their money to.Sasha Willis is the boss lady behind By Sasha, host of the Strategy for Creatives: Business Minus the Bullshit Podcast

Dec 22,2022 10:43

132. #796 You’ve Got Mail

You've Got Mail!Do you remember when those three little words used to make you smile? It's hard to believe it's been more than 25 years since we first logged onto the internet via a very slow dial-up modem to hear those words.And, as in any long-term relationship our feelings about email have changed over time We have gone from early love as we looked forward to an update in our inbox to the dull routine of daily interactions. Regardless of the change in our feelings, we've hung in there, remai

Dec 18,2022 01:37

133. #795 Tips to Train Your Brain

Why should you make a to do list before you go to sleep? It is a way of training your brain . Guest Elizabeth Louis, says when you do that you're getting it into you unconscious brain so you wake up the next morning knowing exactly what you need to do and where you need to go. You start the day in the flow. Typically when you're when you're not able to sleep at night it is because you're struggling with the fear of the unknown. If you make a list of three to five you need to do the next day,

Dec 15,2022 10:31

134. #794 A Little Cappuccino Goes a Long Way

I am a serious coffee drinker. A typical morning starts with two full mugs of coffee, after which I'm ready to face the world. So when I was in Italy a few weeks ago I was worried that the little cup of cappuccino they put in front of me wouldn't be enough. Funny thing, it was. The rich full flavor satisfied my coffee taste requirement and that expresso packed a powerful punch. So as I sipped my little cup of cappuccino it occurred to me there was an important lesson in that cup. It was a less

Dec 11,2022 02:04

135. #793 Finding Your Ideal Client

When it comes to finding your ideal client Jonny Cooper thinks of the process like a three legged stool. You need all three pieces. Without one of the three, the stool falls over. The first one is to identify a type of person for whom we can solve a big expensive problem. This should be someone who's suffering with something really important to them, a life changing challenge we can solve for them.Next, your ideal client needs to be visible, with identifiable characteristics. It's no use say

Dec 08,2022 12:17

136. #792 The Long Game

When it comes to content marketing you need to be playing the long game. It is unrealistic to think you're going to throw a blog post out there today and get results tomorrow.But, if you invest in consistently creating good quality content it will pay off eventually. You're not going to double your traffic overnight but those blog posts will build value over time. You will see content you wrote a week or maybe even a month ago, start to be found in niches and continue to drive traffic for mon

Dec 04,2022 01:25

137. #791 Life Cycle Marketing

Your customers go through many steps and phases as you work with them, so your marketing needs to reflect where they are in their customer journey. Guest, Ellen McDowell shares tips on how to segment your customers into three groups and create marketing messages for those looking to get to know you, those ready to take the next step and those who have completed their journey, If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to check out other's with Ellen: The One Philosophy - Part One and Part TwoAu

Dec 01,2022 12:27

138. #790 Invite me In

When I was a kid and the doorbell rang I would jump up and fling the door open in the hopes of entertaining a neighbor, friend or unexpected guest. But things have changed. We're a lot more cautious these days about who we invite into our homes and into our businesses. This creates real challenges for companies, particularly in the home service industry.How do you overcome this reluctance? The trick is to look for ways to make customers feel like they know you. To do this, you could add photogr

Nov 27,2022 01:33

139. #789 Empathy and Action

Since we were in middle school there's always been someone who said something negative about us. You'd think after all this time we'd learn how to respond but the truth is when you get a negative review or a negative social media comment it still hurts. This week, guest David Oates shares some tips on how to deal with negative reviews and comments. It all begins with empathy and action. It is important to acknowledge the person writing the review is unhappy and open a dialogue, offline, to res

Nov 24,2022 10:47

140. #788 The Follow Up Process

When the phone rings, there's always that moment of excitement. This could be a customer! I've been through enough sales training so I feel comfortable moving prospects through that conversation. But at some point, the phone call ends.So what do you do to continue that conversation? While it will depend on how the conversation went, it's always helpful to have some resources ready to send as a follow up.What should you send? Regardless of the business you're in, think about what people need to k

Nov 20,2022 01:57

141. #787 MEGA Position

This week we are talking about positioning. I know that sounds like some techie, marketing thing that you need an MBA to figure out but it really isn't. Your position is simply what you want people to think about you when you're not in the room and to have that conversation. My guest, Reuben Swartz shared his simply acronym MEGA as a way to think about your position statement in four simple piecesM- Magnetic - The key thing to remember is a magnet has two poles of equal strength. People make the

Nov 17,2022 10:59

142. #786 Lessons from Improv

A friend of mine who is an improvisational artist, and a marketer told me there were many things he learned when studying improvisational comedy that he could apply to marketing. The first is the rule of the Yes. And….In an improvisational interaction, anytime someone says anything, you immediately say yes. This behavior allows you to build on the ideas of others. That’s actually how the internet works. If you’re looking for content ideas, find something someone else has written, and apply the r

Nov 13,2022 01:37

143. #785 Copywriting Style Guide

In this episode Lorraine chat's with Maddie Osman about style guides. But the conversation is not about colors and fonts. Your brand is more than just colors and fonts, it is also about the words you choose.Your style guide sets tone for your brand. Your word choice can be inclusive or exclusive, depending on the objectives of your content. Standardizing your word style will also help you save time as you create and edit content.

Nov 10,2022 10:46

144. #784 New Tech - Finding What is Right for You

It seems like every day there is some new tool or trend. So how do you decide which new technology, software tools and digital trends deserve attention and resources and which don’t? Over the years, I have developed a simply strategy to figure out which new technology and tools are right for me.ExploreThe first part of the strategy is staying ahead of the curve by reading, reading, reading. There’s no single expert in the field so I have several websites I check on a regular basis.EvaluateWhen

Nov 06,2022 02:17

145. #783 Measure Your Email Results

I know you think we've talked about email a lot but we're going to dive into one of the most overlooked parts of your email marketing, the metricsGuest, Emily Maguire shares lessons learned over a decade sending successful email campaigns generating millions of dollars in revenue.She suggests that falling in love with open rates is a mistake. It doesn't matter how many people open your email, it only matters what they do next. You can game the system to change your open rates, or use click bai

Nov 03,2022 12:20

146. #782 Google Wants You to Do Better

I hate to say I told you so. Well, actually I like saying it because I enjoy being right. So I am very much enjoying the most recent announcement by Google that they are going to put even more emphasis on the quality of content on your website.They're going to penalize people with low quality, irrelevant and duplicate content. So if you're purchasing content from a third party and that content is published on multiple sites with little or no change before it gets to your site you are putting y

Oct 30,2022 01:35

147. #781 Time to Pivot

What do you do when external factors turn your entire business model upside down? That's what happened to MeetUp.com at the beginning of their pandemic, as their entire in person meeting model collapsed.Founder, David Siegel explains how going back to their mission of bringing people together allowed them to successfully pivot, survive and actually thrive in the new economy.David Siegel is CEO of Meetup overseeing its global business, which has 52 million members, hosts 15,000 events daily, and

Oct 27,2022 11:06

148. #780 Protect Your Assets

You need to protect the marketing assets of your business.I got a call the other day from a client I hadn't worked with in 18 years. He wanted know if I still had the original art files for his business now. As strange as that sounds, in the old days I would have had that information but I sold my agency two years ago. The new owners don't have quite the file system I did so it took quite a while for them to find the artwork.Is that my fault? No, it's his! He should have known better after 18 ye

Oct 23,2022 01:41

149. #779 It Is All About The Cash

Owning a business is lots of fun. There are all sorts of reasons you do it. But at the end of the day. It's about the cash. Alvin Narsey considers cash a fundamental metric for any kind of business. Many business owners who fail to manage their cash end up in this situation: Sales and revenue are up, but when they look in our bank account there's no cash. So they wonder where all the money has gone. If your business is tripping along at a much greater pace than what you've anticipated, havin

Oct 20,2022 11:26

150. #778 Cost Plus Pricing

What is the Right Price for My Product?This is one of the most common questions business owners must answer. Defining your pricing strategy is critical to your success because it tells prospective customers a lot about your business, helping them place you in relationship to other companies in the market. So how do you come up with that price?There are many different approaches to pricing. Some are easier to implement and manage than others, and some are more appropriate for specific types of bu

Oct 16,2022 02:09

151. #777 Get To Yes Faster

Most business owners did not start out thinking they were going to be sales people, but somewhere along the line they figured out that was what they had become. Guest Susan Trumpler shares tips on how to manage the role none of us prepared for. One of her first tips is to remember how people make decisions.It is natural for us to rely on our primitive brain that was put into their head to keep them safe. So the more you, as a seller, are in touch with how people think and why they make decisio

Oct 13,2022 12:12

152. #776 Turn Your Sales Funnel Upside Down

You've all heard of the sales funnel this marketing model where every sales starts at the top with a large group of unqualified prospects. In the middle are people who are mildly interested and at the bottom of the customers, In the traditional sales funnel model you put a lot of resources at that top of the funnel to bring in as many people as you possibly can.The problem is when you do that, there are very little resources left for that middle and bottom. Those are the critical stages where

Oct 09,2022 03:18

153. #775 Testimonials are Marketing Gold

Testimonials are marketing gold. But the trick is cultivate them. So how do you get people to talk about you? Guest, Erin Ollila breaks it down into two parts sourcing testimonials and then using testimonials. She suggests the best way to source testimonials is to make it part of your process. Don't wait till the project is done and you are handing over the deliverable. Ask questions throughout the entire time you're working with them.The easiest way to implement this is to start asking clie

Oct 06,2022 12:12

154. #774 Lessons from My Days in Retail

I started my career in retail. As a floor manager my job was to attract customers as they walked down the aisle of the store, to pull them into the department. I organized the racks of clothing so they would browse from one to the next and stay in the area as long as possible.Funny thing is as a web designer that's still my job. As I approach the look and feel of a web page I need to think about what will pull a reader in and get them to stay. I plan how I will connect pages and make offers on

Oct 02,2022 01:26

155. #773 Instagram Neighborhoods

Instagram is so much more than simple an app to share images of your favorite cocktail, flower or friend. It is a powerful business tool with four separate features, or neighborhoods as guest Kendra Swalls likes to call them. There is your feed, stories, reels and even an Instagram live feature. She suggests you curate your your feed to be a resource library for your clients. Reels are short snippets designed to engage prospective clients and stories are the behind the scenes looks at your bus

Sep 29,2022 11:20

156. #772 Build a Business to Sell

I know you’re probably just starting out in your business. It is all really exciting and new. But, right from day one, you need to be thinking about building a business that someone else will want to buy someday.To do that, you need to lay that groundwork right from the beginning. Start by creating replicable processes and standard procedures which allow others to do tasks and keep things running when you want to step out of the equation.Even if you’re not ready to sell your business those stand

Sep 25,2022 01:17

157. #771 Attack New Markets with Google Trends

Geotargeting is a valuable tool if you run a local business. Connecting with customers around the block is what drives your business. But guest, Krystal Covington suggests it can also be a valuable tool if you have a national or even international brand. The trick is not to try to market everywhere all at once . Instead, be strategic and select an a attractive region. Google Trends can help you do just that. By studying the data you can find out which key words have grown in popularity and i

Sep 22,2022 10:52

158. #770 Ideas on the Fly

If you're like me, you never have your best ideas when you're sitting at your desk. It is always when you're out walking or talking to someone or driving in your car.Then by the time you get somewhere where you can write it all down and think about it, you have forgotten the idea.My tip is to get really well acquainted with the voice recording app on your phone. Anytime I have a random thought or idea, I just open it up and start recording. Sometimes I capture entire blog posts, and sometimes i

Sep 18,2022 01:22

159. #769 Branding for Creatives

This week, I chatted with Claire Gallagher about the unique challenges creatives face as they try to work on their branding. The rest of the world thinks designers have it easy when it comes to developing their marketing, but that isn't true. Claire explains they often have it harder as they get lost in the weeds of the design.About ClaireShe is a designer and a digital strategist. She's focused on helping solo service-based businesses like coaches and creatives show up online and scale their

Sep 15,2022 11:46

160. #768 Tell Stories About Your Best Days

I love to tell stories. Not only because they're fun, but because they're great for business. That's why I was excited to sit down with master storyteller, David Hutchins. He explains, regardless of who you are or what your role is you are in, you need to tell stories. There's lots of types of stories. Some are great if you are in a sales role, others help leaders communicate strategic direction or reinforce culture and identity.One story type which is really powerful and every one needs to l

Sep 13,2022 10:07

161. #767 Social Media is Like a Single’s Bar

Social media is a lot like going to a singles bar. You're going to meet a lot of nice people and have some interesting conversations. But at the end of the day your goal is to bring your date home.In the world of digital marketing home is your website and your email list. This is where you can have that great one on one conversation without all the distractions like silly videos, cat pictures and baby images. This is where you can control the conversation.As your creating marketing and advert

Sep 11,2022 01:10

162. #766 Use a Quiz to Grow Your Email List

Let's start with the numbers80% of small business owners use email marketing to get new clients and to keep their existing onesFor every $1 you spend in email marketing you can expect $38 back.It is hard to ignore the numbers. Email is still an important part of your marketing. But, how do you grow your email list? Guest, Tai Goodwin suggests one of the best ways is to use a quiz to engage visitors, learn something about them and collect their email address. Once you have them on you list don

Sep 08,2022 11:37

163. #765 Marketing is Personal

Your customers want to feel special. In interactions with you, they want the conversation to be focused on their needs and concerns. To communicate that focus in your marketing campaigns, add a little personalization to improve your ability to attract the attention of prospective customers.With so much business conducted remotely and online, it feels as if we have lost that “personal touch.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Companies willing to invest in getting to know more about customers a

Sep 04,2022 01:11

164. #764 Recession Proof Your Business

If you have been around the business community as long as I have, or maybe even half as long you know there are cycles. There are ups and there are downs. They way to survive the downs is to be prepared.In this conversation, frequent guest Matt Nettleton, shares tips to build a process to recession proof your business. He describes three things you need to have in place as we head into what may be a bumpy economy. A formal sales processTechnology in place to to basically systematically track y

Sep 01,2022 13:46

165. #763 Everything Old is New Again

There is this wonderful song written by Peter Allen in the 1970 s. Everything old is New Again. In a way that song sums up where marketers are these days. When that song was written fifty years ago, television advertising ruled. Businesses used the platform to build awareness by reaching a wide audience with little concern about demographics.It didn't matter who saw your message as long as you got in front of as many people as possible. The assumption was sooner or later someone would buy. Then

Aug 28,2022 01:44

166. #762 Build Landing Pages that Convert

You spend all of your resources trying to drive people to your website. But what do they do when they get there? Well if you goal is to generate leads and build your email list that's where a great landing page comes in. Co-hosts of the System to Thrive Podcast, Jennie Wright and Alyson Lex say your page has to grab their attention right away and that's a combination of how the page looks and the copy that's on the page. We buy with emotion and justify with logic, so the page needs to feed bot

Aug 25,2022 11:49

167. #761 Let’s Start at the Beginning

One of my all-time favorite movies is The Sound of Music. While I love most of the songs, the scene where Maria teaches the children to sing, is definitely on top of my list. say.She explains, when you read you begin with ABC, when you sing you begin with Do Rei Mi. She breaks down all of singing into those three simple notes. It occurred to me while I was watching the rerun the other night that marketing has three little notes as well, the customer, their problem and your solution.If you master

Aug 21,2022 01:09

168. #760 Spark a Conversation

Scott Murray thinks today's marketers have to stop selling, promoting and clinging to outdated strategies and tactics. Instead they need to create content to spark engagement, conversation and inspiration from their audience. As we've moved from print to digital, control has shifted from the marketer to the consumer. They decide when they will stop and look at your content and when they will scroll right by. To earn their attention, you need to put the right content on the right platforms

Aug 16,2022 11:37

169. #759Use KPI’s to Grow

How well is your business performing? Key Performance Indicators help you answer that question. A KPI is a quantifiable measure of performance over time for a specific objective. KPIs provide targets to shoot for, milestones to gauge progress, and insights to help you make better decisions.A few things to keep in mind as you establish your KPI’sDirectly tied to your objective. There are many things you can measure in your business, but KPIs are a unique subset which can be directly tied to an

Aug 14,2022 02:02

170. #758 Set Your Goals with Your Heart

If you're like most business owners you've set lots of goals and in your life and you've never fulfilled them. It not be the goal, but because your decision making process that is creating the failures. Debra Sunderland explains we have three decision centers the head, heart and gut. To often we let the head make the plans. The problem is our brain, in an attempt to protect us, anticipates risk and sets limits. She advocates for letting your heart and your passion drive your goals.About Debra

Aug 11,2022 12:19

171. #757 Build an Amazing Life

When you started your business you probably assumed that sooner or later you would get around to building a life to go with it. According to guest Nicole Bandes, that is not necessarily the best way to approach things. She believes you can actually build a successful business around your amazing life.The trick is to stop defining success based on how others define it and focus on what is important to you. Then understand that you won't find balance, because life is not 50/50. There are times y

Aug 09,2022 10:12

172. #756 Email - Your Little Black Marketing Dress

----more----Every woman has that little black dress in her wardrobe. Classic in design it is not too trendy and not too stodgy. It is incredibly versatile. With the right accessories, jackets, scarves or cool shoes it is perfect for every occasion, year in and year out. And every smart marketer knows that email is their little black dress. It goes well with all of the other elements in your marketing wardrobe. From the hottest marketing trend to the most basic marketing campaign, email makes al

Aug 07,2022 01:18

173. #755 Managing a Business and a Family

So you think you've got distractions and can't start a business. Well my guest, Renee Harris has nine children and still found a way to build a six-figure business. How did she balance the demands of a family and the demands of running a business?Renee explains. " We didn't start with 9 kids when we started a business and just like when you have kids normally you don't get them all at once and normally a business doesn't just fall in your lap. " She didn't try to do everything at once, focusing

Aug 04,2022 11:17

174. #754 Make Your Content Fun

Social media and content marketing should be fun. If you are not feeling the fun in the content you are creating then your audience is probably bored, and so are you. But it doesn't have to be that way. Guest Elizabeth Ruth suggests when you start with a clear brand voice it is easier to create content which entertains and is memorable enough to help you sell products. About Elizabeth Ruth. Elizabeth is the Owner and Chief Copy Writer for ER Marketing Services. The agency empowers business ow

Aug 02,2022 11:07

175. #753 -No Social, Just Media

Facebook is on a mission to take the social out of social media. They've announced changes to their algorithm that you're already seeing.They're prioritizing ads and video from complete strangers over the updates from friends and family members. Those updates are going to be buried somewhere and you're really going to have to look for them.As a user, this is incredibly frustrating. And as a business owner, it's confusing as I tried to figure out how to navigate this post algorithm change world

Jul 31,2022 01:01

176. #752 People over Profits

These days business is built on relationships. So when you are in a networking situation, guest Patty Farmer suggests you remember to focus on the people and the profits will follow. The relationships we build are the currency in today's business environment. So think of your business like an ATM machine. Are you making more deposits or more withdrawals?This is a return appearance for Patty. If you enjoyed this episode, you are sure to find value in our earlier conversations.

Jul 28,2022 13:19

177. #751 The International Team

These days, it seems everyone is talking about working remote. with advances in technology, you can work anywhere in the country or anywhere in the world.As a business owner, managing a remote, international team has some similarities to managing other teams and a few unique challenges. This week, Matt Levenhagen joins us for a conversation about running an international team. About MattFor more than 20 years, Matt has on web design, affiliate marketing, niche marketing, PPC advertising and SEO.

Jul 26,2022 10:15

178. #750 Success in a Rocky Economy

I know the economy is rocky. Yes, things have been bumpy for the last three years. But the truth is, this isn't the first time it's happened, and it will be the last. If you want your business to still be around when things finally settle down, here are a few things you should do.Use this time to clean up your processes. Get efficient. With tight labor markets and rising salary, stop wasting time and money on anything that is not productive.Ruthlessly review your marketing. Just because you've a

Jul 24,2022 02:00

179. #749 Find Your One True Love

When it comes to finding your life's love or passion is there really only one? Maybe you think that's a strange introduction for a marketing conversation. But it's not. Just as finding that one true love is important to your personally, it is also true for you as an entrepreneur. There is happiness and profit when you commit to your one true passion. Guest Jennifer Crawford says there is lots of talk in the entrepreneurial space about finding your why. It can be a complex journey to find you

Jul 21,2022 12:09

180. #748 The Psychology of Words

Sometimes when people write copy they forget they're not just writing for SEO. They need to keep in mind they are writing to attract the attention of real people who have specific reasons for reading the information According to our guest, Rai Hyde Cornell, Google's not the one clicking the buy now or book a call button. They are not the ones making the decision. So, why are you going to prioritize Google and Google's spiders and search bots over the actual humans who have the real power to bu

Jul 19,2022 11:17

181. #747 The Right Price

What is the right price for your product or service? Most small business owners struggle with this question, because they confuse the cost of producing the product with the value it brings to the customer.When it comes to establishing a price for your goods or services, the value of your product has absolutely nothing to do with production cost. The value is based on how much you help clients save, increase, reduce or improve. If you can quantify these benefits, then you have a foundation for es

Jul 17,2022 02:36

182. #746 A.I. and You

If you're a little bit of a sci-fi nerd. The idea that the robots are coming can be a little bit terrifying. But if you're a marketer in today's world the advent of Ai is an exciting opportunity. Guest Thomas Helfrich agrees some of the early AI content wasn't great it has gotten much better. It's doing a great job for small businesses looking to produce short marketing copy titles and headlines. But for longer form you still need a human in the loop.

Jul 14,2022 10:57

183. #745 Avoid Social Media Overwhelm

Do you feel overwhelmed by social media if you do you're not alone but I've got some good news for you because there are things you can do to manage the chaos and make the time you're spending on social media productive. Our guest, Andrea Jones explains one of the challenges with social media is that it's a mixture of our business and our personal life. one of the tricks is to identify why you're on social media to begin with and separate the platforms for personal and business use.The second

Jul 12,2022 11:37

184. #744 I Love Evergreen Content

One of the things I love about living in Indiana is the color of the seasons. There are the bright pastels of spring, the rich greens of summer, and the bright orange and yellow of fall. The exception is winter. The dreary days of winter seem colorless and bland compared to the vibrancy of colors throughout the rest of the year. That’s why I love evergreen trees. They bring spots of color to my view all year long.Just as these wonderful trees bring consistent color to my yard, evergreen content

Jul 10,2022 02:59

185. #743 - Stop Creating Content and Start Telling Stories.

When it comes to creating content, the age old question seems to be " What do you write about? The biggest challenge of creating content is staring at that blank sheet of paper. But according to guest Kathleen Celmins, it doesn't have to be.The trick is to stop creating content and start telling stories with your clients, not you as the hero. In the "story" focus on their transformation, how they changed as a result of working with you. That is the source of compelling content! About Kathlee

Jul 07,2022 11:12

186. #742 Unlock Your Creativity with Art.

People tell me they're they don't think they're creative. But that's not true. Everyone is creative. We just express it differently. And you need that creativity to solve the business and personal challenges in your life. In this episode, our guest Fiona Valentine explains how simple it can be to unlock your creativity by drawing just a few minutes every day. Starting with a structure approach to learn the basic rules, anyone can learn to draw. That skill, in turn will unlock new parts of your

Jul 05,2022 10:42

187. #741 Shaping Your Brand Position

What do you want people to say about you when you're not in the room. What do you want them to tell people. who are looking for someone who does what you do?All of those comments add up to your personal brand. Now a lot of business owners are under the misconception that somehow they control their brand. But they don't.Your brand is something that exists in the mind of your customers. All you can do is influence it with your marketing messages and your actions and over time you will create a br

Jul 03,2022 01:03

188. #740 Flip the Sales Conversation

You think you know everything about sales. You've heard all the presentations and everybody talks about pain and objections. Well, my guest Chandler Walker thinks that might be the wrong way to approach a sales. He believes the goal isn't just to stab at a prospect to find the pain. Instead, when you become a cognitive listener you are able to identify the pain and understand where the pain exists. Using that information you must help the prospect look not just short term, fixing the pain, but

Jun 30,2022 11:10

189. #739 Better Networking Results

I love a good networking event. but I know not everybody loves that process. They're often confused and frustrated with how to start the conversation and where to go after they've opened it. Laura Templeton suggests you start by ditching the pitch mentality.Start by crafting a short "I help" statement. So when someone asks what you do, you an say I help . . . That makes the conversation about your customers not you. The next trick is to have a great set of questions you can use to get the o

Jun 28,2022 11:47

190. #738 It Takes a Village

Every parent knows, It takes a village to raise a child. Each of the adults in the child’s life, relatives, teachers, coaches, brings a different perspective. The same is true for your business. No matter how smart you are or how much you know about your business, there are gaps in your skill-set.Your business village should be filled with smart, talented subject matter experts to help you fill in the gaps. If you are running a small business your village won't be comprised of employees, but an

Jun 26,2022 01:19

191. #736 Sitting on a Gold Mine

I bet you didn't know that you're sitting on a gold mine. but according to my guest Mary Henderson, you are. As human beings. we experiences built over a lifetime, and those experiences are currency. This is particularly true of former corporate executives who are exploring entrepreneurship. The skills you build over your career can be worth millions if you can systemize your knowledge, wisdom and skill set, transforming that into a solution Too often, however these would-be entrepreneurs m

Jun 20,2022 10:40

192. #735 Power Words

Words have power to move, motivate, inspire, frightened and cheer, what you say and how you say it can have a strong impact on another person. Some words, called power words have more impact than others. These words have strong meaning, which can trigger a psychological or an emotional response. They're persuasive, pushing people to action.Using these power words in your web copy, email communication, social media, will grab the attention or your reader and move them to action. There are three

Jun 19,2022 02:39

193. #734 What Type of Bird are You

Whether you're trying to hire a new person, work with an agency or close a sale, the very first step is really figuring out if you're sitting across the table from the right person.The problem is that people don't come with scorecards telling you exactly who they are and whether or not they're a good fit, or do they? Social engineer, Benjamin Bressington says there is a scorecard, if you look for it. In this episode, he boils down people into four main types, each with a set of communication p

Jun 16,2022 10:40

194. #733 The Rule of 26

What if you could improve the amount of traffic that came to your website, the amount of conversions and the lifetime value of customers by 26% each? My guest Michael Buzinski developed the Rule of 26 to help busy business owners understand we do not have to dive into the complexities of digital marketing to get revenue from our websites.He believes many business owners think of their website as an expense and not a revenue generating tool. To help change their perspective, he shows them how

Jun 14,2022 12:40

195. #732 Healthy Conflict

Wouldn't it be nice if we all just got along. That might seem like a good idea but it really isn't. You can't eliminate conflict completely. and you shouldn't.Well-managed conflict actually cultivates discussions and create opportunities to uncover new and innovative solutions. Accept conflict as a natural part of your relationship with employees and with all of the people in your life.It isn't necessarily good or bad. It can be very healthy if the conflict occurs when people have different ide

Jun 12,2022 01:29

196. #731 Vacation-Proof Your Business

All work and no play makes Jack or Jill very dull. As a business owner you work really hard but you also need to find ways to get away and take a vacation. Guest Carol Clegg shared great vacation preparation tips from working ahead, to finding co-working spaces along the way to get things done. You have to prioritize and focus on those things which have to get done to keep your business. But you may not have to be the person to do the work. About Carol CleggCarol Clegg, is the owner of Class

Jun 09,2022 11:08

197. #730 What Makes You Remarkable

Why should I buy from you? That's the question we have to answer if we want to grow our business. My guest, Rich Brooks thinks the answer needs to be remarkable. And he has developed a formula to help business owners find makes them remarkable. It starts with the four "F's" - find, focus, fashion and frame. About RichRich Brooks is founder and president of flyte new media, a digital agency in Portland, Maine, that’s been in business for over 24 years. He is a nationally recognized speaker on

Jun 07,2022 11:04

198. #729 Buying Journey

Let's go on a buying journey. Think about the last item that you bought, where you spent more than $100. Maybe it was something for your business or home. Write down the item you bought and work backwards through your buying journey. Describe why you chose that particular product. Did you see an ad? Did someone recommended it? Was there information on social media which made you curious? Write down all of the things you remember related to that purchase.For example, we recently installed new win

Jun 05,2022 02:14

199. #728 Follow Your Passion and Make Money Along the Way

If you're like a lot of people you may be under the misconception that you have to make a choice between doing what you really love or making money but that doesn't have to be the case. Guest Joel Salomon doesn't believe you should have to make that choice. It starts with transforming limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs and creating affirmations to shift your mindset. Use present tense, not future tense language. Saying the affirmations out loud to start your day. You don't have to jump a

Jun 02,2022 12:25

200. #727 Build Your Super Toolkit

Do you have a super toolkit for your business? Also called standard operating procedures (SOPs), when created correctly give business owners freedom to work on their business. This week, our guest Kris Ward explains that many business owners make the mistake of creating static SOP's to cover liability. The narrow definition and inflexible design will actually hold you back. A super toolkit will grow and change along as the business grows and changes. About Kris WardKris Ward is an author, pod

May 31,2022 10:19

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All Episodes (200)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new