Business Growth Hacks

Do you want to learn the proven approach that successful entrepreneurs are using to build their brand, grow their reach, and expand their income? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Today, you’ll find out what it takes to write a bestselling book from Chandler Bolt, an investor, advisor, Founder and CEO of the Self-Publishing School, and the author of seven books, including his most recent title, Published: The Proven Path from Blank Page to 10,000 Copies Sold. Chandler knows exactly how instrumental writing books can be when it comes to sharing your message and strategically growing and scaling your business and, in today’s action-oriented episode, he offers some key insights into the process of writing, marketing, and publishing your first book. You’ll also discover the eight milestones on your journey from blank page to published author, how you can overcome imposter syndrome along the way, and how the Self-Publishing School can help you avoid some common first-time author mistakes, plus so much more. Chandler believes that there is no such thing as the perfect time to write a book; the perfect time is now! Ready to create the business of your dreams using a bestselling book as your launchpad? Then, this is the episode for you! Key Points From This Episode: Today’s icebreaker question for Chandler: what his favorite book was as a teen.A glimpse into Chandler’s journey as an author, which began when he was just 19 years old.How he discovered that he learned more by doing than he did from studying business.Breaking down the three publishing methods; traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing.Why you should write a book and how it can help you strategically scale your business.Chandler’s response to common excuses, like “I don’t have time to write a book.”Advice for overcoming fear and imposter syndrome while writing a book.Demystifying the process of writing your first book using the MORE Writing Method.What value Chandler’s book, Published., offers readers as a standalone guide.How the Self-Publishing School helps you avoid some of the same mistakes Chandler made.Some of the services that the Self-Publishing School offers aspiring authors.How you can use books to grow your business: more leads, more sales, and more referrals.Today's Business Growth Hack: the book is the new business card!Next steps, including where to get your free copy of Chandler’s new book! Tweetables: “It’s not about the book. It’s about who you become in the process of writing and publishing that book.” — Chandler Bolt [0:02:37] “You will never have time to write a book, so if you’re waiting for time to write a book, it’s just never going to happen. You’re going to have to get started before you’re ready. You’re not going to find the time; you’re going to make the time.” — Chandler Bolt [0:16:08] “Most things have already been said, but there is a unique way, a unique message, and a unique perspective that you have and that most people have that they can use to tell their story and write their book in a helpful way.” — Chandler Bolt [0:21:03] “My philosophy is to give away all your best stuff for free. People will pay you to tell it to them again or they will pay you to do it for them.” — Chandler Bolt [0:24:31] “Give two [books] to every new customer and say, ‘Here’s one for you and here’s one for anyone you know who needs help with (insert the problem that you solve).’” — Chandler Bolt [0:38:22] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Grab a copy of Chandler's book for free! Chandler Bolt on...

Nowadays, the good old fashioned press release is often ignored as a way to market your business, but this tried and tested method can still be extremely beneficial for the businesses that use it correctly. Today, we are joined by Mickie Kennedy, the Owner of eReleases, which specializes in helping companies with press releases at an affordable cost so that even small businesses can benefit from them. Tuning in, you’ll hear about the importance and responsibility of having employees, what a press release is, and why businesses are fearful of PR, as well as what a compelling press release looks like and why they don’t always have to be related to important news. To learn more about the importance of press releases, why most press is good press, and how eReleases can help your company with PR, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: Discussing everyone’s favorite soda as an ice breaker. How Mickie made the move from poetry to PR.How long it took Mickie to realize that he could do this on his own. When Mickie started employing people and why he waited too long. The responsibility of having employees. Defining what a press release is and how small businesses can harness their power. What businesses are fearful of when it comes to PR. What Mickie feels makes a compelling press release. How surveys can help with press releases. Why press releases don’t always have to be related to important news. Some interesting alternatives to the standard PR stunt, which Mickie cautions against.The validity that comes from being used in a publication. Challenges Mickie has encountered when convincing clients of the value of press releases. Writing services Mickie’s company offers.What has surprised Mickie in his line of work. Why most press is good press. Mickie's business growth hack. The importance of personalization. Tweetables: “I challenge everybody to refine what it is that you do that’s different from somebody else [because that can] make your chances of getting an article written much stronger.” — @ereleases [0:14:09] “If you feel defeated or want to start strong, just do a survey!” — @ereleases [0:17:12] “Most press is good press!” — @ereleases [0:30:59] “You can make a really strong connection with someone virtually.” — @ereleases [0:33:00] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Mickie Kennedy on Linkedln Mickie Kennedy on Twitter eReleases The Automatic Customer Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter Beefy Marketing Beefy Marketing on Facebook Beefy Marketing on Instagram Beefy Marketing on YouTube <a...

Welcome to a new and exciting episode of the Business Growth Hacks podcast! Today, we welcome entrepreneur, podcast host, business owner, author, and newbie Instagram celebrity, Jeremy Miner. We dive right in and Jeremy takes our old ideas around growing our career in sales, which we assume needs massive and constant mindset changes and meditative practices, and challenges them with what, according to him, are the actual keys to success. From the right questions to ask, the correct tonality that triggers curiosity, and all things in between, we start to understand why Jeremy is considered a behavioral science and sales guru to many! Jeremy engages us in topics such as his NEQP model, how to navigate our new information age and the importance of removing our commission breath. Plus, we are lucky enough to get a guide on how to facilitate successful sales conversations. Jeremy explains the power of picking up queues, understanding human behavior, the way our brain reacts, and the value of conversations that are quality over quantity. From recording successful Instagram reels to dismantling old, outdated myths, Jeremy teaches us the power of persuasion, influence, and moving others. We hope you'll join us! Key Points From This Episode: Kicking off the episode with an icebreaker: Jeremy’s favorite marketing/sales book.A quick look at a high and lows of Jeremy’s past week.How Jeremy has successfully created his presence on Instagram. Jeremy’s assumption as to why salespeople are not investing in their own education. The incorrect myths around how to be successful in sales.Who needs the skills and abilities to sell, and why them?How Jeremy got started in sales, emphasizing his move out of retirement.The biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs, salespeople, and business-owners are making. How to facilitate an engaging, successful sales conversation. The NEPQ method: neuro, emotional, persuasion, question. Understanding how to use the different forms and modes of communication. Jeremy gives advice on the common ‘where to from here?’ question. Jeremy gives his thoughts on closing (sales).How to change our training and methods behind our marketing within the sales divisions.How companies should change their processes to see better sales results in the future.The potential sales trends are exciting to Jeremy. Tweetables: “Salespeople don’t look at their career as something long-term.” — @jeremyleeminer1 [0:09:18] “When you learn the right skills, that gives you confidence because it actually works, you actually make sales.” — @jeremyleeminer1 [0:11:14] “Everybody on planet earth is in sales at this point.” — @jeremyleeminer1 [0:11:54] “You have to get rid of your commission breath.” — @jeremyleeminer1 [0:16:22] “Most of your prospects — when you first start talking to them, don’t even realize they have a problem.” — @jeremyleeminer1 [0:32:20] “Companies are their salespeople. If there are no sales, there are no companies.” — @jeremyleeminer1 [0:39:15] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jeremy Miner Jeremy Miner on Twitter <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/7thlevelhq/about/"...

Welcome to a new and exciting episode of the Business Growth Hacks podcast! Today, we are joined by entrepreneur, podcast host, event planner, reinvention ninja, and mindset-guru Andrea Freeman. Andrea takes us on a tour of her past, telling us stories of her first business at 12 years old as a way to focus on her entrepreneurial background. We listen as she explains how she has been in many fields of work, yet she always found her way back to being a business owner. Later on, Andrea discusses all things mindset, emphasizing the limits we may put on its potential due to a simple bias of the word. She gives us techniques and methods that empower us to climb off the high-speed business hamster wheel and reset, recenter, and re-calibrate our mindsets. From meditation to just being present in nature, we are given tips and tricks on how to expand the awareness of our mind and create a mindful practice that helps us inspire action to claim our business power back. Plus, we are lucky enough to understand how to acknowledge our authentic, true selves and create alignment within our business. If the words restore, rejuvenate, and restart appeal to you, tune in and listen to how to leverage your mindset to create a more joyous, calm, and present entrepreneurial life! Key Points From This Episode: Kicking off the episode with an icebreaker: everyone's morning drink of choice.A look at Andrea’s career background and her self-made nickname, a “reinvention ninja”.How transforming your mindset is the key to changing your life.Looking at the entrepreneurship characteristics evident in Andrea’s childhood jobs. Leveraging mindset to have a meaningful impact on clients and customers.The power of being able to outsource, delegate, and hand over control within your business. Andrea’s personal tips and tricks to start your journey of mindfulness and meditation. Exploring transcendental meditation towards a more calm, joyous, and present life.Personal evolution as fuel for business revolution: focusing on our thoughts. HOST: the ways and processes of being in your life and business.The hosting program Andrea curated for business entrepreneurs.How to be honest with yourself and your needs as an entrepreneur running a business. Receiving as the key to an abundant mindset.Acknowledging and exploring new strategies and techniques to improve our mindsets. What to focus on to make a lasting and meaningful impact in your business. Tweetables: “I think, the more joy we have in the things we do, the more freedom and more self-expression we have, the greater our quality of life.” — Andrea Freeman [0:05:51] “The truth is your business doesn’t only need you. Your business needs so much nurturing.” — Andrea Freeman [0:13:27] “At a certain point in time, tending to who you're being, which meanings offloading your stress levels so that you can be the more joyous, calm, present, peace of mind human being that you're really here to be, that’s what's going to serve you.” — Andrea Freeman [0:18:18] “The thoughts that we are thinking are ultimately what causes us to take action.” — Andrea Freeman [0:20:54] “When you are aware of the thought thinker, and you’re tending to that part of yourself, that’s when you get to influence the thoughts that you're having.” — Andrea Freeman [0:21:57] “Anything that you have to do to get those negative beliefs, those self-doubts out of the way, to be able to really, truly own who you are is going to move you forward.” — Andrea Freeman [0:40:55] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The Upleveled Entrepreneur Podcast <a...

Content creation is often seen as the pain point of managing a business’s social media: is it yours? In this episode, Andrew Ryder challenges all our preconceived ideas around successful social media content creation! We learn how the art of good content creation comes from creating a structure that is out of the ordinary, and is one that promotes the growth and nurturing of our ideas. Andrew guides us through a new approach that, despite making our traditional minds uneasy, throws away all content calendars, and templates for posts, and instead follows some seemingly successful guidelines. We also explore the forgotten art of storytelling and how creating inventorying habits is the key to making organic and authentic story-based content. Plus, you’ll hear how, when we let our inspiration become our foundation, we promote transparency in our content that is not forced or faked, but relatable and desirable to follow. Join us to explore recreating the molds that entrepreneurs must fit into, the paradox of attention, and a complete restructure of your ideas! Key Points From This Episode: Kicking off the episode with a game of icebreakers.Reflecting on methods, techniques, and flaws within the traditional content creating system. How to non-traditionally systematize managing content for multiple clients.The importance of an open structure that prioritizes your ideas for the day.The importance of authenticity, relevancy, and staying present on your social media.Andrew’s suggestions on successful and organic content gathering. The processes and influences behind Andrew’s daily newsletter.Daily content creation and content consumption to catalog thoughts and ideas. Looking at the ideas that came together to form Andrew’s new book. How to have a lesson within each story your share. Using a movie to understand the importance of motivation and inspiration. The paradox of attention.How to be vulnerable and the importance of not taking yourself so seriously.Exploring what Andrew describes as the brilliant clarity of his childhood dreams.How to decide what is truly fulfilling in our lives. The power of consistency and creating habits. Tweetables: “We have this tendency to seek out shiny objects and new tactics and the greatest new way of doing things or secrets, and all of this stuff that, at the end of the day, it doesn’t really make a big difference in your bottom line, in your business.” — Andrew Ryder [0:02:52] “You ought to have more than enough to say. You ought to get passionate and emotional and really engaged with your audience.” — Andrew Ryder [0:09:09] “Instead of trying to change the entrepreneur to fit in the mold, you need to change the mold or the system to fit the entrepreneur.” — Andrew Ryder [0:10:47] “Relying on someone else’s content calendar, or the perfect ratio of this type of content to that type of content is where you get into a trap.” — Andrew Ryder [0:14:08] “Rigidity causes writer's block.” — Andrew Ryder [0:14:38] “Each piece of content is an idea. It is memorialized in time from when you had that idea, what you were thinking about, what you were learning about.” — Andrew Ryder [0:25:58] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andrew Ryder Andrew Ryder Coaching Andrew Ryder Mobile App Andrew Ryder Training <a href="https://www.andrewbryder.com/contentious"...

Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people that are born with incredible resilience. However, sometimes they get in their own way and as a result, do not see the growth they want to see in their business. Today on the Business Growth Hacks podcast, we are joined by Samantha Varner. Samantha is a profit coach and money-making business specialist. She is also the owner of SHE Collective; a coaching program designed to help women become badass entrepreneurs. Today we discuss Samantha’s definition of ‘grit’ and how entrepreneurs can learn from the hardships they face. We also discuss why Samantha travels a lot and how that affected her decision to open her own company. Next, we talk about why she focuses on female-owned businesses and what services she offers. We then discuss how Samantha pushes entrepreneurs to move past their weaknesses before delving into her Crush Formula. She also shares some tips for journaling and why this is helpful. Finally, Samantha tells us what business owners can do to balance personal and professional lives. Tune in to hear all this and so much more! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today’s guest, Samantha Varner. How Samantha got her start and got to where she is now in her career. How Samantha defines ‘grit.’How entrepreneurs can learn from the ‘suck’ and hardships they face on their own.Why Samantha travels a lot and how that affects her work. Why Samantha focuses on women-owned businesses.What services Samantha offers to her clients. How Samantha’s coaching differs from the abundance of coaching businesses out there.Why numbers and shame go hand in hand for female entrepreneurs. How Samantha pushes people to make changes and move past areas of weakness.Samantha explains her Crush Formula. C – core: why you are doing this and what your values are.R – revenue: the money aspect.U – utilities: moving from being a one-man band. S – sales: what the sales process is and how to do it faster. H – headspace: managing your mind throughout the whole process. Some things business owners can do to build confidence. Samantha shares some advice for starting journaling. How Samantha recommends balancing personal and professional lives. Samantha gives listeners a journaling prompt. Samantha gives us some information about her company. Tweetables: “I’ve learned so much from working for myself.” — @abrockenbush [0:06:45] “It doesn’t matter how long it’s going to take me to accomplish this thing, but I’m going to do it until I do.” — Samantha Varner [0:07:10] “You don’t need more hours to make more money.” — Samantha Varner [0:19:46] “You’ve got to give yourself a break!” — Samantha Varner [0:38:44] “You need to build a business that supports your life, right? The business is a secondary character to your story.” — Samantha Varner [0:39:19] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Samantha Varner on Linkedln SHE Collective SHE Collective on Instagram Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter Beefy Marketing Beefy Marketing on...

What someone else says about you carries more weight than what you say about yourself. Someone else’s opinion will ultimately be the deciding factor for customers as they look through your reviews. What’s crucial is that what you're saying about yourself lines up with what people on your reviews are saying. It’s where you want to aim to be! We’ve got such a fun topic for the podcast today: Online reviews. They're extremely important for your business’s success, especially as it pertains to search engine optimization. It’s part of your online presence and provides potential customers with a sneak peek into what they should expect if they are planning to work with you. Join us today for this jam-packed episode all about how online reviews are fundamental to your company’s growth. We talk about how they influence a variety of different aspects of business like your overall SEO score, Google Map Pack, message validation, final sales, and so much more. You do not want to miss this episode! So make sure to tune in today, and enjoy! Key Points From This Episode: John tells us about a job he was once offered but didn’t end up taking.Some key points to take into consideration when quoting.Andrew shares statistics related to the importance of online reviews.What online reviews provide: a sneak peek for customers.Why what someone else says about you is more weighty than what you say about yourself.How reviews influence your overall SEO score.What Google looks at with regards to your online reviews and your SEO score.What the Google Map Pack is: location-based results on a Google search results page.We talk about showcasing negative and positive reviews; it provides customers with context.The importance of responding to or addressing your online reviews: keep it classy!How your reviews play a role in your SEOs boosting keywords about your business.The importance of social media, connecting, and networking as it relates to online reviews.How reviews play a vital role in final sales. Put your reviews everywhere you can put them! What a mark-up schema is and why a review schema is beneficial for your business. The importance of having a strategy to replace reviews; consistency is key!Why having a system to protect your company from negative reviews is important.How validating negative experiences can lead to fewer negative reviews. Growth hack: get reviews by asking nicely and asking in the moment. Tweetables: “If there aren’t three or more stars, I have a hard time hitting buy.” — John Kelley [0:09:18] “If you think about your reviews: what you say about yourself — is it really that valid? It can be, but what other people say about you is what somebody’s going to use as a deciding factor. It will hold way more weight than what you say about yourself.” — John Kelley [0:10:09] “Negative reviews suck, but you’ve still got to read them!” — @abrockenbush [0:28:01] “Reviews are the foundation of what people think and take as the truth about your business. Whether it is or is not.” — @abrockenbush [0:29:28] “Just as it is important for you to have strategy and automation consistency in your email marketing whenever you get an email address, it’s just as important with a review.” — @abrockenbush [0:31:45] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: <a...

Brand is the path of least resistance to revenue. At least, that is what brand architect, Kate DiLeo, believes! As today’s guest Kate teaches you how to eliminate complex and ineffective brand storytelling by delivering a simple yet evocative message that gets to the root of what you do, how you solve your customer’s problem, and how you differ from your competition. The outcome? Brand conversations that convert! Kate has partnered with more than 200 brands across 20 sectors, she is passionate about helping brands craft messaging that brings more prospects to the table, and her book, Muting the Megaphone: Stop Telling Stories and Start Having Conversations, is set to release in July 2022. Today, you’ll learn why your tone of voice is critical to your success and how to avoid a one-way monologue and start a brand conversation that encourages buyers to act, not just listen. Kate also shares her ‘brand trifecta’ philosophy, which encompasses your tagline, your value proposition statement, and your differentiators, and we touch on the power of niching in, building a brand playbook, and so much more! If you are ready to cut the fluff and build a brand that wins more work, this is the episode for you! We hope you’ll join us. Key Points From This Episode: An icebreaker to kick things off; what Kate would do with her time if money were no object!Hear why Kate refers to herself as an “accidental brand strategist.”Advice from her dad that helped her set up her career: never burn a bridge, live and die by your Rolodex, know how to sell something.The influence that Kate’s education in anthropology has had on her business mindset.Defining branding as the path of least resistance to revenue.Why your tone of voice, brand personality, and brand archetypes are critical to your success.Storytelling versus brand conversations and how to avoid a one-way monologue.Some of the key logistics of writing about your brand on your website.The roles that story and conversation play at the point of conversion.Understanding why less is more when it comes to the structure of your homepage.Kate’s ‘brand trifecta’ philosophy: what you do, how you solve your customer’s problem, and how you differ from your competition.What organizations should be focused on, and it’s not your competitors!Another area Kate focuses on with her clients: niching in (and why that can be scary).Why Kate believes her singular focus on messaging is her core business characteristic.The importance of building a brand playbook and how it helped Kate in her business.What Kate has learned from her mentors about leading from desperation or invitation.Missed opportunities for business leaders, including the opportunity to evolve as people.Kate’s business growth hack: take a look at your brand trifecta! Tweetables: “Your brand is your path of least resistance to revenue. Said differently: the job of your brand message is to get more of the right prospects to the right table at the right time.” — Kate DiLeo [0:13:27] “It’s really powerful to have a brand that is a conversation because you’re no longer putting [buyers] in a position just to sit back and listen. You’re actually putting them in a position to act.” — Kate DiLeo [0:16:47] “Great brands do not speak to everybody. You’re not in the business of convincing. You’re in the business of converting.” — Kate DiLeo [0:30:57] “My business exploded when I niched in because I began to build such a rich partnership network.” — Kate DiLeo [0:41:09] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: <a...

Finding your business’ one of a kind message is one of the most important steps on the road to success. Here today to share his insights on how to create unique creative strategies to drive sales and boost revenues is Kenny Gray, founder of Grayt Media. His ability to utilize Facebook and other social media channels has been proven to scale eCommerce businesses and Shopify stores alike, and most recently, he has learned to leverage the power of TikTok. Tune in today to hear about Kenny’s career journey, leading up to building the team at Grayt Media, and hear his thoughts on leverage the power of TikTok, and whether Facebook ads are still relevant. Next, we dive into AB sales funnels, and how bounce rates feed into the algorithm, before Kenny shares some advice for budgeting for paid ads, and understanding that your business is not for everyone. Hear why it’s important to see the big picture, and why you need to be okay with not seeing a return on your investment while you build brand awareness. Join us to hear all this and more today! Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to today’s guest, Kenny Gray with Grayt Media. Ice-breaker question: TikTok worlds you have got lost in. Kenny’s first job out of college as a marketing intern on the Golf Channel.How he got his start in the digital marketing space, became a freelancer, and started to build a team that is always learning.His ultimate goal to deliver great work and why he doesn’t pursue opportunities that don’t allow him to do that.Tips for leveraging the power of TikTok: focus on the organic approach.His thoughts on whether Facebook ads are still relevant: yes! AB testing, sales funnels, and how bounce rates feed into the algorithm.Where to start with a budget for paid advertising, and how to test everything in a controlled environment. Advice for businesses looking to introduce paid ads when they don’t know where to start.The importance of understanding that your business is not for everyone. What you need to set up before you introduce paid media. Why you should spend at least $300 dollars a month when you start out.Why you have to be okay with not seeing an initial return on your work. Focusing on the organic approach and going for engagement metrics to look for little wins with TikTok.What businesses can do to see an uptick in your online shows with limited budget: set up your back end as well as you can, with email, SMS, and community management.Why nothing can sell your business better than word of mouth.How community engagement can sell your product better than the ad itself. Tweetables: “I freelanced for a bit and that went better than I thought, and I realized, it’s either I work every single day constantly, or I start building a team that makes more sense for longevity, so that’s what I started to do.” — Kenny Gray [0:14:08] “Keep figuring out what people actually want to buy, and then keep on producing derivatives and variants of that.” — Kenny Gray [0:017:03] “Make TikToks. Don’t make ads.” — Kenny Gray [0:21:03] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Grayt Media Grayt Media on Instagram Grayt Media on LinkedIn Kenny Gray on LinkedIn Andrew Brockenbush

Our guest today is a powerhouse! Allison Williams is known as the Law Firm Mentor and is the owner of two successful companies. She’s the founder of Williams Law Group, a full-service family law firm, and as the Law Firm Mentor, she provides business coaching services for solo and small law firm attorneys where she helps them grow their revenues, crush chaos in business, and make more money. Join us today as we hear from Allison about growing your business, navigating a partner split, handling the fear behind hiring the right person at the right time, how to create a marketing plan to produce recurring revenue in your business, and so much more. You do not want to miss out, so make sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: An icebreaker: a common thing Allison has never done.What sparked Allison’s interest in law: prosecuting Christopher Columbus for war crimes. She shares some of her business growth secrets; acquiring and integrating business skills.More behind the story of how she came to create her coaching business. Allison shares how she handled the split with her ex-business partner: how will they both be kept whole?How she navigated making her first hire; handling the fear that will inevitably be there.The top characteristics Allison looks for when going through the hiring process: attitude, aptitude, and cultural fit.The importance of learning the art of behavioral interviewing and how that applies to hiring.Advice on when it’s the right time to hire someone; when 75% of the things on your plate can go to someone else.How small, law-related businesses can build a marketing plan to produce recurring revenue.Allison’s advice on how to convert more clients over the competition; carving out the target client avatar. Why Allison and her team offer worksheets for free and the value of these resources. Allison’s favorite episode of her own podcast Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor: Episode 139.A shameless plug from Allison Williams.We end with one business growth hack. Tweetables: “Money in the bank is not security. It’s perceived security, but it can be gone. The only thing that you are ever going to have true security in is what you, alone, are capable of doing.” —@WmsLawGroup [0:18:20] “One of the things I teach our clients about hiring is that you always have to be looking for attitude, aptitude, and fit.” —@WmsLawGroup [0:21:45] “Something I always tell my clients is that nothing creates hustle like hunger.” —@WmsLawGroup [0:29:23] “The way that you crush chaos in any business is to systematize everything.” —@WmsLawGroup [0:50:47] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Allison Williams on LinkedIn Allison Williams on Twitter Williams Law Group, LLC Law Firm Mentor Law Firm Mentor Resources Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor Episode: How To Be Decisive Marketing for...

Today we have a real-life celebrity entrepreneur on the show, and we are so happy to share this amazing conversation with Melissa Kwan! Melissa is the co-founder and CEO of eWebinar, which is a revolutionary automated webinar solution, that empowers hosts through combining pre-recorded video and real-time interactions and live chats. In our conversation, we get to hear from Melissa about the steps leading up to the founding of eWebinar, how automating certain processes changed her life, and why remaining truthful and authentic is the key to managing automation. Our guest also comments on the digital nomad lifestyle, why you are always in control of your workload, and a few nuggets of wisdom for running your first webinar! Listeners can expect to come away with some great insight into the specifics of Melissa's company, as well as an increased understanding of the benefits of webinars in today's market, so make sure to give this episode a spin! Key Points From This Episode: Melissa's belief in the best days being ahead of us! Some of the reasons why webinars are such a powerful medium right now. Melissa's professional history and the companies she started before eWebinar. Unpacking the concept of a digital nomad and Melissa's experiences of the idea. The entrepreneurial spirit that was always in Melissa, even before she was aware of it! The basics of webinars and the ways in which they can help small businesses.Challenges that Melissa faced earlier in her journey with creating webinars.The continued increase in the importance of the webinar format.How automation can impact your effectiveness and lifestyle. The limits of automation; how to lean on these facilities in order to focus on what cannot be automated. Personalization, authenticity, and automation; Melissa speaks about telling the truth. Advice from Melissa about punctuality for those getting into the webinar game.Why Melissa suggests designing your business around the life you want to live! A growth hack from Melissa for leveling up your next webinar. How to find and connect with Melissa and eWebinar online. Tweetables: “My first two companies were in real estate technology and had lots of trials and tribulations there, and that set me up for what I am doing today.” — @msskwan [0:05:30] “That's what I am working on today, helping people get out of webinar hell, turning videos into webinars, so they can go and have more fun.” — @msskwan [0:07:00] “There is such a disconnect between how we want to be a consumer, and how we are a vendor.” — @msskwan [0:19:39] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: eWebinar The Butterfly Effect The Automatic Customer UpWork Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter Beefy Marketing Beefy Marketing on Facebook Beefy Marketing on Instagram Beefy Marketing on YouTube <a...

Podcasts have been around since the early 2000s, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has made them massively more popular. Talking to us today about the impact a good podcast can have on your brand and marketing is Thomas Schwab, author, speaker, consultant, and founder of Interview Valet. We first hear how Tom moved from the navy to marketing, and where the idea for Interview Valet came from. We learn why podcasts are so much more effective than blogs, why consistency is key, and how to make a pitch more personal. Andrew breaks down what a trojan podcast is, and why he wants to start podcast prospecting! We also discover the wealth of content that can be extracted from a single podcast, why Tom feels podcasting is like therapy, and how podcasting can be used to overcome obscurity. From the four things to look for in a podcast as a prospective guest to Tom’s two tips on how to get the most from the podcast itself, you don’t want to miss this insightful discussion. Key Points From This Episode: Welcome to Tom Schwab, author, speaker, consultant, and founder of Interview Valet.Tom’s journey from the navy and working on nuclear power plants to inbound marketing. Where Interview Valet started, and how Tom grew the company around the idea. Why podcasts are so much more effective than blogs as a marketing tool. The importance of targeted marketing, and being consistent.What Tom would spend his money on in terms of content marketing, and all the content that can be extracted from a podcast!The importance of a pitch, and why making it personal is so effective. What a trojan podcast is, and what to look out for.Andrew’s idea of podcast prospecting: why he started it and where he sees it going. Why your intention behind starting something makes all the difference. How the COVID-19 pandemic helped podcasting grow to the next level. Why podcasting can be like therapy, and Tom's experience of this. Why podcasting is important for overcoming obscurity.Crafting your messaging to get new business from podcasting: the three ways to get someone to say yes.How reciprocity and building relationships promote business.Finding quality podcasts to suit your business: the four things to look at (the podcast itself, the website, the reach, and brand affinity).A story from Tom about a mismatch between a company and a podcast brand. Tom’s advice on how to get the most out of your episode: prepare your social media, and continue to use the podcast after it was released. How to not shoot yourself in the foot with a podcast: tips on being a great guest!Where you can get into contact with Tom. A final business growth hack from Tom: all the best things in life come from conversations. Tweetables: “I’m the world’s renowned expert on my opinion.” — @TMSchwab [0:01:57] “You don’t need to go out and pester people, you don’t need to spam everybody. Why don’t you just put great content out there? And guess what, it’s going to attract the right people, and it’s going to repel the wrong people.” — @TMSchwab [0:14:32] “Don’t waste your time in an arena that you’re likely not going to invest a lot of your time because you just don’t feel comfortable.” — @abrockenbush [0:19:42] “If you want to grow your business, be more effective, don’t just do more.” — @TMSchwab [0:22:21] “The whole idea of a podcast...

Most millennials remember a time without cellphones or YouTube. The world has changed dramatically since then, and advertising has moved with it. Tune in today to find out how you can use traditional marketing in a digital world, and the pros of both approaches. Andrew and John launch the episode with a brief reminiscence of the TV adverts they remember best, and how they personally experienced the digital revolution. We dive into the benefits of digital advertising (real-time feedback, 24-7 exposure, how targeted it is, and the ease of updating it), and how we can tie traditional marketing in with it using digital billboards. We also hear why traditional marketing still has a place, and the situations, locations, and customers it is best suited to. We learn why Andrew and John are such big fans of video as a medium, their hacks on how to get good customer reviews, why an up-to-date website is so crucial and so much more in this exciting episode! Key Points From This Episode: The oldest TV campaign ads John and Andrew remember, and where you can check them out.Today’s topic: traditional marketing in the digital age. Why traditional marketing has such a high cost. How marketing has changed over the last 30 years: the jump from physical to digital. The influence of our devices on our health and lives.What traditional marketing focused on, compared to digital marketing. Andrew and John’s first experiences with modern technology as kids. Digital vs traditional marketing: why you should be pro both. How your customer persona can help you decide whether you go for traditional or digital marketing. Why the real-time feedback and the 24-7 exposure from digital marketing is a pro. The types of campaigns that are ideally suited to traditional billboard marketing. Why neither traditional nor digital marketing is skip-proof. The pros of digital marketing: it’s targeted, and easily updated. How digital billboards merge digital and traditional advertising, and where it’s going in the future (proximity advertising). Appreciating the role of marketing in consumers' decision-making. Moving from traditional to digital, and why not having a website can lose you money. The importance of getting good reviews and using traditional marketing to drive them. Using digital marketing to keep restaurant menus up-to-date.Why it’s so important to keep websites up-to-date. How a marketing agency can help you screen your customers for good reviews (legally!).The benefits of using video in digital marketing, and linking it to customer reviews.How to maintain authenticity in a digital world. Some amazing statistics on how well people respond to videos. The impact of the digital space on our personal lives and transferring ideas. Hack of the day: using Handwrytten to personalize marketing. Tweetables: “It’s going to take money out of your wallet to do something physical. Digitally, you can do things for the appearance of free with things you’ve already paid for.” — John Kelley [0:07:44] “I wish I had fully embraced what [technology] was going to do. I was smart enough to understand ‘Okay this is cool’, but I don’t think at the time I was fully aware of how big it was going to be.” — @abrockenbush [0:17:10] “Anything that is too extreme (left or right) is unbalanced.” — John Kelley [0:19:10] “The biggest thing about digital is that you have a better overview of ROI.” — @abrockenbush [0:21:38]...

One in five small businesses don’t invest in digital marketing, a shocking statistic in this digital day and age. Today we hear about why you should hire a marketing agency, and the many pros and few cons of doing so. We break the ice with a discussion around the importance of saying "no”, and how this is tied in with being a business owner. We segue into how a marketing agency can help you avoid burnout by saving you time, energy, and money. We also hear how a marketing agency can provide you with a fun space to work, how it exposes you to different ideas, and ways in which it can help you pick up new skills. Find out why Andrew wants to build his own Fantasy Factory, how this is linked to improving Beefy’s clients’ lives, as well as the importance of strengthening your community and interacting with people different from you. For all this and more, press “Play” now. Key Points From This Episode: The ice breaker for today: coming to terms with telling people “no” and the role of a good leader in preventing burnout. How a marketing agency can prevent you from reaching burnout. The shocking statistics around the number of small businesses not investing in marketing. Why you should hire a marketing agency: gaining an outside perspective. How a marketing agency gives you access to skills outside your existing workforce. How hiring a marketing agency can actually save you money: access to multiple skills for the cost of one employee. Why you can do it all yourself, but shouldn’t (time, efficiency, and access to project managers and creatives).The strategic business advice that can come from a marketing agency. What an agency knows that will help a small business identify its shortcomings. How agencies benefit from helping you to succeed.The positives of the teamwork dynamics that a small business will be exposed to through an agency.How a marketing agency can rejuvenate a small business!Andrew’s dream of creating a Fantasy Factory. Picking the right marketing agency for you. The tools that you can learn from a marketing agency. How a marketing agency should help you strengthen your community. The benefits of engaging with people who are different from you. Today’s hack: getting a free marketing assessment, and a great resource for getting business reviews. Tweetables: “It’s hard to establish boundaries for yourself and expectations with your clients, or family, or friends because it’s like ‘I want to support you, to be a good friend, a good family member,’ but if you are always saying ‘Yes,’ there’s eventually going to be a time when you burn out.” — @abrockenbush [0:02:09] “Bigger is not better. Better is better.” — John Fritzsching [0:05:56] “If you don’t have time to sort through the best creators and creative people, and then go back-and-forth with revisions times a million until you get the artwork perfect, that’s where an agency can really come in hand.” — @abrockenbush [0:15:45] “Agencies know what it takes to help small businesses grow.” — @abrockenbush [0:19:20] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andrew Brockenbush on LinkedIn Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter John Kelley on LinkedIn Free to Focus...

Welcome to today's installment of Business Growth Hacks, where we're talking to Andrew on the phone about scriptwriting for a podcast. Without a script it’s hard to have a show and stay on topic. You need a guide to move smoothly through the topics you want to cover in an episode. In this transparent episode the guys will guide you through how they write a script and get a podcast episode recorded. You don’t want to miss this step by step guided tour of how business growth hacks is made. You will learn tips and tricks to help step up your own podcast production

Today we’re going to be talking about embracing ‘the suck’ in entrepreneurship, and what many business owners consider to be ‘the suck’ is numbers. While 40% of small business owners state that bookkeeping and taxes are the worst part of owning a business, we believe that this is key to your business’s success, and that not knowing your numbers is the silent killer of small businesses. In today’s episode, we discuss some of the mistakes we made in the early years of entrepreneurship and what lessons we learned the hard way when it comes to budgets, taxes, and knowing where we stand. We talk about how hiring a tax expert can help you save money, why you need to determine where you are before you can understand where you’re going, and the importance of running cash flow positive. To find out which numbers you absolutely have to know as a business owner and other helpful tips, resources, and business growth hacks, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to today’s topic: knowing your numbers.Some surprising statistics about small businesses and entrepreneurship. Thoughts on the phrase "saving money is not making money".Some of the mistakes Andrew regrets from his early years in entrepreneurship.How hiring an expert when it comes to your taxes can help you save money.Why you need to determine where you are before you can understand where you’re going.The importance of running cash flow positive.One of the numbers you need to know: revenue, and how this is different from profitability. Why you should pad your budget for miscellaneous expenses.Another number you should know: cashflow.Why Andrew bases his financial decisions not on money in the bank, but positive cash flow. A business growth hack: Use software like Quickbooks or Freshbooks to know your numbers.Other resources for knowing your numbers: Bench Accounting. Tweetables: “What I learned is that [the IRS] is not as scary as you think, as long as you talk to them. If you try to hide in the corner and hope that your problem is going to go away, it’s only going to get worse.” — John Kelley [0:08:10] “Before you even make a plan on where you’re going to go, you need to realize where you are because that’s going to determine the steps you need to take to get to that goal that you’re setting or to even determine what the goal is that you’re going to set.” — John Kelley [0:13:19]” “I think that’s the biggest importance of knowing your numbers, if you want to grow, you want to scale, you’ve got to understand where you currently are.” — @abrockenbush [0:13:42] “I think the bottom line in today’s episode is if you take the time to sit down, understand your numbers, and spend some time looking at that profit and loss report, that really is your best friend as a business owner.” — @abrockenbush [0:29:21] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andrew Brockenbush on LinkedIn Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter John Kelley on LinkedIn Friday Quickbooks Freshbooks Wave Xero Bench...

Sales is a constantly evolving landscape, and your sales approach should be too! With the massive amounts of information available out there, we need to be particularly mindful of the fact that our customers are more knowledgeable and discerning than ever, which begs the question: what is the role of the salesperson in the modern age? Here to answer this question are your hosts, Andrew and John, honing in on a topic that we're passionate about here at Beefy: inbound methodology. “One size fits all” does not apply to the modern consumer; listen in to learn why the goal of your job should now be to provide personalized recommendations based on someone's needs. You'll also hear why it's so important to make sure your website is informative and transparent, some top do’s and don'ts of speaking to customers, and some real-life experiences that show why it's crucial to really listen instead of pushing sales. Finally, you’ll get two valuable business hacks that provide you with the activity and data of your website visitors so that you create personalized recommendations based on their behavior! This conversation on relational sales is one you don't want to miss! Key Points From This Episode: We catch our listeners up on the fantastic new studio space we're loving working in.Kicking off with an icebreaker: what one change would you make in your life?We get into our meaty topic that we're passionate about here at Beefy: inbound methodology.Hear some sales closing stats and reflections on the modern buyer's journey. Acknowledging the fundamentals and discussing how the closing process has changed.Examples of the ways that product information and the sales world function digitally now.Some do's and don'ts when talking to your customers!Ways you can personalize your approach to acknowledge that customers are more informed.The “person” in the word personalization: how to make marketing relevant.Diving into Facebook's data tracking processes.Talking about the effectiveness of sales team efforts such as cold calling and mass emails.Tacking the question: so what is a salesperson's job now?How to become the buyer's Yoda, and the importance of getting your website right!Digging into who the customer actually is and making personalized decisions from there.What we're doing really well in our Beefy community regarding supportive resources.Some real-life examples of companies pushing sales onto the customers instead of listening to their needs. About the importance of protecting your existing customers by building their trust. Discussing video content and how it helps you know your audience. Two business growth hacks that will elevate your business, if you're not already using them! Tweetables: “The fundamentals, in any area, were laid there for a reason. We're not negating any of those old tactics or things that work. We're just saying that the way that it looks has changed.” — John Fritzsching [0:08:55] “Technology has taken the place of people as far as completing tasks. But now people need to step back in to add the personalized touch so that people feel like people are talking to them again.” — John Fritzsching [0:16:07] “The goal of the inbound sales methodology is for the salespeople to become the buyer's Yoda. The salesperson has to position themselves as a trusted advisor.” — @abrockenbush [0:24:27] “If [the customer doesn't] feel like you're listening to them, they are going to feel like you're just trying to push sales on them.” — John Fritzsching [0:32:27] “You have really got to leverage the methodology to listen, to diagnose, to prescribe the right solutions for this...

Despite the poor reputation that they have in many circles, when done right, promotional products are still a huge part of business and an incredibly valuable marketing tool! This episode was recorded in the car on the way back from this year’s ASI show because we wanted to share our top takeaways with you while they were still fresh in our minds. Everything from smell-rings to bathrobes to power blocks can be found at the ASI show, and while some of the products were generic and tacky, others were really useful, memorable, and will act as a great walking billboard for those brands! Tune in today to hear about the wide range of promotional products that you can use to increase your brand recognition, and some examples of how you can get creative to make sure that your brand stands out from the crowd! Key Points From This Episode: John, John and Andrew share the best promotional products they have ever received. The purpose of the ASI show.Some of our top takeaways from this year's ASI show. Value that lies in giving away high-quality promotional products. Benefits of using hats as promotional products. Examples of creative promotional products.Some of the weirdest promotional products seen at the ASI show. Our favorite promotional items from the ASI show (divided into tech and non-tech products).The broad spectrum of uses for promotional products. What separates the brands that stand out from those that blend into the crowd.Today’s business growth hack: Think outside the box! Tweetables: “We want to be a resource to people, and we don’t just do that whenever the camera’s are on or when someone has been sent to us through a referral. All the time, that is our normal method of operation.” — @abrockenbush [0:05:41] “The idea of giving away promotional products like t-shirts and caps and pens and all the other creative things, will really go a long way as it pertains to brand recognition.” — @abrockenbush [0:09:02] “[Promotional products] are a walking billboard.” — John Fritzsching [0:10:40] “You’ve gotta think about the overall look when you think about promotional products.” — John Fritzsching [0:16:14] “The whole point of marketing, the whole point of promotions is to make a statement.” — @abrockenbush [0:28:06] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: ASI Show Swag Bar Tile Andrew Brockenbush on LinkedIn Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter John Fritzsching The Beef Podcast Beefy Marketing

Another episode of Business Growth Hacks is here and podcasts are today’s hot topic. In this episode your hosts Andrew Brockenbush and John Fritzsching will help answer the new age question: Should you monetize your podcast? In this episode you will hear: Flying by the seat of your pants.Fun fact: podcast was coined from combining ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’If you had to leave your house where would you go?In 2020 Iheart radio grossed 2.95 B-B-B-Billion dollars on podcastIn 2020, 3 out of 10 people said they would be willing to pay for a podcast subscription. You have to pay for the production costs.Sponsors an ads are a great way to monetize your podcastMerchandise is money making and brand advocacy rolled into one package.Paid subscriptions are valuable if the content is valuable as well. Watch what you do on YouTube. Affiliate marketing builds brand relationships Links Mentioned in Today’s episode: Andrew Brockenbush on LinkedIn Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter John Fritzsching The Beef Podcast Beefy Marketing

Today’s episode of the Business Growth Hacks podcast is a special one. Your host Andrew Brockenbush is proud to have the podcast's very first guest, Richie McPeak. Richie shares details about how despite his cancer fight, he co-founded McPeak Market – maker of the world’s first non-GMO vegan gummy supplements and ready-to-drink plant-based powders for adults and children. We dive into the lessons learned while scaling his business and he gives us advice on how to push through trials. Key Points From This Episode: First introductions are in order for guest, Richie McPeak, Sarcoma Survivor and entrepreneur.57% of business owners feel afraid of failure when scaling their business.Your family will get on board with your business.Soul-to-soul branding and why it is important for connecting with potential customers.How cancer only accelerated Richie’s work ethic. The drawbacks of soul-to-soul marketing and the power of word of mouth.Created and runs an entire brand from his iPhone.Why Richie always dreamed of being a United States Marine.Make sure the partners you make can grow with your business. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: mcpeakmarket.com Twitter: @McpeakRichie Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter Beefy Marketing Beefy Marketing Blog Small Business Nation

It is Martin Luther King Jr Day, so on today's episode of Business Growth Hacks your hosts Andrew Brockenbush and John Fritzsching take a moment to remember some inspirational quotes. Following those, the guys dive into funding your business and the different avenues available for you to see your dreams come true.

Welcome back to Business Growth Hacks, the podcast covering all things marketing and the hacks you can apply to grow your business. In today's high volume market, 84% of consumers value recommendations from friends and family above formal advertising. Join your hosts, Andrew Brockenbush and John Fritzsching, as we dive into brand advocacy and what it should mean for your business. Brand advocacy is a model in business that is geared towards turning loyal customers and employees into walking billboards. Empowering the right people with materials to tell your brand's story can multiply your reach. Brand advocacy is also a major factor in the overall customer experience. Don’t miss out on this information-packed episode! Key Points From This Episode: Best Companies to work forPeople Value opinions of friends and family over adsSocial media has become a huge dynamic in advertisingDigital marketing increases ad campaign tech but adding brand advocacy multiplies itKeep it simple because it is!The goal is to identify those who identify with your brand and want your business to succeed.A brand is what makes your business different from other businesses in the industry.Focus on consumers who already promote your business.Employees become advocates when they are vested in the business’s success beyond their paycheckBe on the lookout for the ones that promote your business without being asked.Don't discount the benefits of industry partners. Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Easy-advocate.com

One of your favorite websites is one out of the 1.6 billion-and counting websites online. Each of those sites is uniquely designed and 43% of the them are built on the WordPress platform. In this episode of Business Growth Hacks, your hosts Andrew Brockenbush and John Fritzsching dive into one solution for your small business website, Wordpress. In these “high-tech” times, websites are no longer difficult to make. Hear how easy it can be to set up your own website on the Wordpress platform, what you need to know and where to find resources to support your website build. If you have been thinking about developing a Wordpress website but have no clue where to start, this episode was made for you. Don’t miss today's business growth hack as they give you tools to help kickstart your website and make design decisions that will set you up for success. Key Points From This Episode: So let's talk about websites, John and Andrew’s favorite websites. The number of websites online is growing every day.So many people have a good creative ideas, new businesses, or even a marketing blog.You don't use phone books to find companies anymore. It didn't have, um, websites aren't as hard to makeIt is no longer a challenge to keep your website up to date. Theres a difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org.All of that functionality that is built into WordPress.John and Andrew break down responsive web design aspects of the Wordpress platform.Built on an open source platform it allows for the entire world to work together to develop the computer code.SEO is worked into the framework of a Wordpress website build out of the box.Add users and manage user permissions to allow team members to create post and perform website maintenance.Over 54,00 plugins available to customize and add functionality to your website. Tweetables: “The cool thing about WordPress is you don't have to be a genius to get it done. I have to be the tech wizard to run your own website anymore.” [11:15] And it is the platform that I would recommend to any business owner. That's wanting to build their own website and there are, don't get me wrong. There are great website builders out there. 27:58 7% of people will leave a site based on how fast it loads. And that's another thing about, you know, just speed of a website. Is it greatly affects your overall SEO? 32:26 Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: wordpress.org wordpress.com sweetwater.com youtube.com heb.com amazon.com chase.com elementor.com udraw.co igradients.com colorhunt.co Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter John Fritzsching The Beef Podcast Beefy Marketing

Hey everybody and welcome back to the Business Growth Hacks podcast! People, the holidays are upon us and if you are anything like us, you are taking some time to reflect, while possibly hatching a few plans about how you might grow your business in the year to come! Software plays a huge role in the growth and overall success of a business, so we thought we would have some fun today and do a little roundup of the best apps we use here at Beefy! John and Andrew weigh in on almost every application you might need in your business, giving you some great ideas on the best software for creativity, administration, workflows, HR, and more. You’ll hear your hosts sing the praises of Adobe Creative Suite for anything art-related, Dropbox for storage and file sharing, Gusto for payments, and Process Street for, well, processes! John and Andrew also get into the benefits of Slack for communication, FTP-related tasks with Transmit (attention nerds), database management with Airtable, marketing with ClickFunnels, user metrics with HotJar, and Facebook marketing with AdEspresso. As you can see, our conversation is as jam-packed with goodies as your Christmas stocking, so be sure to join us and get in on the action! Key Points From This Episode: What our hosts are planning to eat over Christmas and how they first bonded over pie.How much time the average employee is productive per day.Perspectives on the value of Adobe Creative Cloud and which apps from it our hosts like most.Different solutions for video editing such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Rush. All the applications for Canva and how it can be used in place of Photoshop.The functionality of communication-based apps like Slack.How useful all the different apps within the G Suite umbrella are.The different ways we use Google Drive and Dropbox at Beefy.Media collaboration and project workflow built for designers with Cage App.Why Transmit is a standout application in the FTP space.Putting all of your email accounts in one place with Spark.All of the payroll functionality provided by Gusto.The value that Bench provides to the Beefy team in terms of bookkeeping.Documenting and keeping track of workflows and processes with Process Street.Easy marketing automation and social media scheduling with Agorapulse.Intuitive GUI-based database management with Airtable.Facebook ad automation and reporting with AdEspresso.ClickFunnels: the software to help you build landing pages for a specific offer.The phone screen recording capabilities of DU Recorder.Figuring out how users behave on your website with Hotjar. Tweetables: “With Gusto, I can trust that you guys are getting paid when you are supposed to and that is really important when it comes to building trust and culture in a company.” — @abrockenbush [0:34:21] “Process Street is the easiest way to understand your processes as a company and then collaborate on those processes.” — @abrockenbush [0:43:48] “With AdEspresso you can set a budget, like 50 bucks a month, and say, ‘Automatically boost my posts every day,’ and when it spends the 50 bucks, ‘Stop it and then restart it next month.’” — @abrockenbush [0:46:56] “Hotjar will give you the deep data that you need to say, ‘Well shit, we are wasting time on pages that don’t matter. Let’s spend more energy on this page that every single person that visits our site clicks through.’” — @abrockenbush...

The average American spends two hours and 25 minutes on social media a day! Almost half of the world's population is on social media, with the majority of people being active users. With incredible statistics like these, who wouldn't want to use social media as their latest marketing tool? Join us today to hear why social media should be included in your marketing strategy, which platforms you can use for what content, and why TikTok has shot to the top of the video content platforms. We dive into the latest tools available across various forms of social media (from homemade advertisements on TikTok to Instagram Stories), and how you can use social media to do market research for free. Andrew and John break down how they use a single video to create content across multiple platforms, why virtual reality and augmented reality are the next big thing in marketing, and how videos help customers get to know the people behind the brand. Tune in to hear today’s business growth hack on using an editorial calendar to keep your social media content up to date, and so much more! Key Points From This Episode: John and Andrew’s favorite and least favorite aspects of social media: networking, and trolling, respectively. How social media algorithms have affected our social interactions. The development of social media and the first trends John and Andrew remember. Why you’re probably ignoring your greatest tool: social media. Social media trends and how to use them to improve your marketing. Tip number one: users love video content. Using video to showcase your content, who your company is, and your personality. Tip number two: repurposing content across multiple platforms from a single recording.Why you need to tailor your video content to who you want to consume it. TikTok to the top (tip number three): using the latest technology to your advantage. How the size of the TikTok user base ensures that someone out there will want your product. The benefits of not realizing that you’re consuming an advertisement due to the homemade nature of a TikTok video. Andrew’s experience of a virtual trade show and why it’s easier to target genuinely interested clients in a virtual space. The different ways you can use live streaming content, from weddings to charity events. VR marketing: what it is and who should be using it. Using AR marketing to help your customers choose their product. How Instagram Stories is different from other video platforms, and the benefits of the constant feed updates. Staying up to date: the importance of trying new social media features as soon as they launch. The beauty of Clubhouse and why passive listening makes it easier to consume content. How you can do market research for free using social media. Reddit: why it’s the front page of the internet, and how you can use it to help you flesh out an idea. Andrew’s business growth hack for today: be trendy through social media content and an editorial calendar! Tweetables: “My favorite thing [about social media] is that there’s a new type of connectivity to not just our own circle of friends, but beyond that, that we didn’t have when we were kids.” — @abrockenbush [0:01:24] “To some extent, I feel like we’re more connected now than ever, and also more apart than ever.” — @abrockenbush [0:03:59] “People buy from people, not businesses.” — @abrockenbush [0:13:45] “Instagram stories takes all of the best social media...

Well it has happened again, another year almost wrapped up! The end of the year can signify it is the time for small businesses owners to prepare taxes, take inventory and make moves to set their best foot forward. In this laid back installment of the Business Growth Hacks Podcast, hosts Andrew Brockenbush and John Fritzsching will help you by serving up important year end tasks that can help propel your small business into the new year. They will start by identifying where to get started and give you a few ideas on what those profit and loss numbers may mean for you. Next they take you through their strategies when it comes to goal setting. Finally, they wrap it all up with your business growth hack of the day. Key Points from This Episode: Hello from our hosts Andrew Brockenbush (founder and CEO of Beefy Marketing) and John Fritzsching (video production specialist at Beefy Marketing)Podcast confessions, no Christmas gifts purchased yet or Christmas trees up.Recapping last years ChristmasIcebreaker question: What is the best thing you have bought so far this year?Our hosts recap their favorite purchases throughout the year including camera gear and office space.Introducing today’s topic end of year planning with a question: what workflow changes have you made this year that benefited you the most?The importance of goal setting and getting your team on the same page and working toward the same goalsEnd of year can be hard, preparing yourself can help ease the pain.Update your bookkeeping records.Review your revenue goals as well as profit and loss marginsPeople, Culture, Profit. Today’s Business Growth Hack: Find an expert! Tweetables: "Because, you know, we can write goals down all day long, but if we don't start making steps in those directions, we're not going to get there." @johnthevideo [6:41] “The thing is there's, there's so much that goes into running a business…” @abrockenbush [11:18] And I think budgeting does not just mean money. It can also mean time. @abrockenbush [33:23] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andrew Brockenbush on LinkedIn Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter John Fritzsching Beefy Marketing

Getting into the entrepreneurship arena isn't something to be taken lightly if you want to succeed, you have to make sure you're asking the right questions and know what you're getting yourself into! Welcome to today's installment of Business Growth Hacks, where we're talking about the reasons why you shouldn't start a business. And let's be clear: this episode is definitely not trying to convince you not to become a business owner, but we are here today to guide you through all the wrong (and right) reasons and risks you should consider before quitting your day job. In this conversation, hosts Andrew Brockenbush and John Fritzsching will help you identify your “why” and cover some common misconceptions about the lifestyle of entrepreneurs. You'll get a sneak peek at what it's really like behind the scenes of the Beefy Podcast, plus listeners can hear about the challenges of wearing so many hats and trying to be a good boss. We also break down some key points to bear in mind amid your excitement of identifying a gap in the market, and the importance of doing your field research on why no one else is doing it. Finally, we close with some fantastic hacks and tools that you can use to check and elevate your ideas before taking the leap. If you're even thinking of taking the plunge and starting your own business, then this is the episode you've been waiting for! Key Points From This Episode: Say hello to your hosts: Andrew Brockenbush (founder and CEO of Beefy Marketing), and John Fritzsching (video production specialist at Beefy Marketing). Introducing today's topic with a question: If you could start any business, what would it be?The fallacy of business ownership being a life of freedom and ease. Don't start a business just because someone else thinks it's a good idea!Identifying a gap in the market, and carefully evaluating why no one else is doing it.Accessing your “why” before you walk out on your boss. Identifying what your pain is at work, and asking for what you need before you quit.Getting feedback on your business idea from other knowledgeable people in the industry.How starting a business means accepting to work every role in that business. New facets of the Beefy evolution, and the challenging realities of all the hats we wear.People don't quit bad jobs, they quit bad bosses!Today’s Business Growth Hacks: Google Trends, Ubersuggest, and a whole lot more! Tweetables: “When you own a business, all of a sudden you have a responsibility for more than yourself.” — @abrockenbush [0:06:28] “Are you disciplined enough to be able to say ‘If I want to be successful, I have to push myself.’” — @abrockenbush [0:07:46] “If you go starting a business because you hate your boss, you're going down a slippery slope.” — @abrockenbush [0:19:41] “This time of year people are definitely getting frustrated, especially if they're not getting off for the holidays like they'd like. And it can really make you think ‘I'm just going to quit my job and start something.’” — John Fritzsching [0:25:20] “If you're starting a restaurant, you are agreeing to work every position in that restaurant.” — John Fritzsching [0:25:55] “Leadership creates the culture, whether you want to believe it or not.” — John Fritzsching [0:27:37] “I heard a statement one time that says people don't quit bad jobs, they quit bad bosses.” — John Fritzsching [0:34:54] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andrew...

70% of marketers are actively investing in content marketing and 78% of companies have a team of one to three content marketing specialists. If that many businesses are investing in it, then clearly it’s a priority, but creating a great deal of content for a variety of different formats and platforms can be a challenge, especially for a small team. That’s why today’s business growth hack is about how to repurpose content. In this episode, we take a deep dive into how to repurpose old content as well as how to create new content in a way that really helps you to get the most out of it. Tuning in you’ll hear a breakdown of the lifespan of social media posts based on platform, the average engagement rates and reach businesses usually get on each social media post, and how to use this information to your benefit. To hear this detailed and actionable plan for all the ways one single piece of content can be repurposed to really maximize its value, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: How Andrew and John first started repurposing blog posts as podcasts. How some of your successful content can be old content that is updated and revitalized.The importance of trying to create evergreen content when creating new content.A breakdown of the lifespan of social media posts based on the platform.The average engagement rates and reach rates on social media posts. Why it’s okay to repost social media posts.How many impressions it takes for an ad to be effective. The importance of knowing your audience and their social media habits. How reusing content in different formats allows you to reach different people. A breakdown of all the different ways you could repurpose a single blog post. The value of video content and different ways to generate it from existing content.How to approach creating content in formats you don’t feel comfortable with.The value of graphics, not just text.The importance of consistency and how repurposing content helps you to achieve this.Today’s business growth hack: a challenge to repurpose a blog post. Tweetables: “I think repurposing content is all about finding the most helpful ideas from all this common content that you’ve already created consistently, blog posts, social media posts, things like that — and then reimagining it, reusing it in another format or another context.” — @abrockenbush [0:20:34] “Sometimes you don’t need more content, you just need to see where else the content you’ve already created can be applied.” — @abrockenbush [0:22:31] “I think that all of this comes back to the fact that every single piece of content you create, blogs, videos, audio, social media posts, is literally like this big churn system. It can all flow into another thing.” — @abrockenbush [0:36:59] “A social media post can be a video, a social media post can be a blog post, a podcast can be a blog, a blog could be a podcast. It is so bizarre just how you can reverse engineer everything.” — @abrockenbush [0:37:14] “If your content is quality, your audience is going to be happy to see it over and over again.” — @abrockenbush [0:41:12] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Loom Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter Beefy...

In 2019, Black Friday online sales surpassed all previous records, reaching a whopping $7,200,000,000. Tune in to Business Growth Hacks this week to hear how you can prepare for the Black Friday weekend, and why if you’re not participating you are missing out. From Andrew and John’s experiences of Black Friday and the holiday season growing up, to why gift cards are indispensable in the current economic climate, this episode is a masterclass in marketing! Discover how to build a game plan for Black Friday, why it's not simply about one Friday, and how you can troubleshoot before it's too late. We dive into the buyer’s psyche and how to motivate them to bite the bait. We also hear about companies that are doing their marketing right, and what you can learn from them. Find out why your email list is your most valuable marketing platform, seven incredible tips on how to prepare for the Black Friday weekend and so much more! Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to your hosts: Andrew Brockenbush (founder and CEO of Beefy Marketing), and John Fritzsching (video production specialist at Beefy Marketing). Today’s topic: your marketing strategy for Black Friday.Hear John and Andrew’s personal stories around the best presents they ever got, growing up. How buyers plan around Black Friday and why this should impact your marketing strategy. The timeframe of Black Friday: not simply one day, but the start of the buying season. How to build a game plan for Black Friday, and what you should consider as a business owner (inventory, shipping cost, supply chain issues, timeframes).Why it’s important to create a sense of urgency in your marketing.The value of planning for disaster: what to do when stock won’t be shipped in time.Why your business needs a gift card.The benefits of making daily specials and repackaging sales, and some examples of companies doing this well. Co-branded marketing: why you should be combining forces with other companies.Unlocking deals and keeping your customers guessing: the benefits of suspense. Making Mystery savings work for you using sneak peeks and scratch or spin tools. Why an email list is your most valuable marketing asset and how it is better than social media. Partner with industry influencers: creating awareness in groups of people who are beyond your customer circle. How to tap into SMS marketing and how to toe the line of too many messages. Leveraging the fact that you are a local company.How many times a day you should be posting on social media, and why there is no such thing as too many sales signs. The benefit of last-chance-deals and how to re-incentivize customers.Seven top tips on how to prepare for the Black Friday weekend.Why a return policy helps make impulsive buying decisions more comfortable. Re-targeting customers and the marketing tools to help you with this.Today’s Business Growth Hack: the shopping guide and how to create your own. Tweetables: “And if you’ve not thought about [Black Friday], maybe you think Black Friday’s only for the big box retail stores, that’s not true.” — @abrockenbush [0:04:18] “[Black Friday] is honestly a marketing dream come true.” — John Fritzsching [0:14:57] “FOMO and urgency are two of the biggest sales tactics ever.” — @abrockenbush [0:17:37] “If you’re already doing a Black Friday sale, and you know that there’s two days between that and Cyber Monday (the digital version which is all just a blurred line now), just go ahead and do the whole weekend.” — <a href="https://twitter.com/abrockenbush"...

Welcome back to Business Growth Hacks, the podcast covering all things marketing and the hacks you can apply to grow your business. Today we tackle the topic no one wants to talk about: budget. What should you be spending on marketing for your company? Andrew gives us seven tips (and a whole host of other useful advice) on what your marketing budget should include, why you need to define your purpose in marketing, and which platform to choose. Tune in to find out what the benefits of digital marketing are compared to traditional marketing, and how digital marketing has exploded since 2020. We also discover the different goals of marketing, from brand awareness to sales, and how a marketing agency can provide you with the experience your company might be lacking. Finally, Andrew breaks down what a marketing budget should include, and teaches us an incredible hack on how to calculate what to spend on gaining new clients. Don’t miss out on this information-packed episode! Key Points From This Episode: Eating a sandwich and not wearing pants: the advantages of being an entrepreneur. The different pain points between entrepreneurs and small business owners. Why digital marketing is key to your business’s success. The benefits of digital marketing compared to traditional marketing.Seven tips for setting the perfect digital marketing budget.Define your purpose: what do you want your marketing campaigns to achieve? (Tip one)Why it’s a bad idea to try to do everything at once. Learn from your past: if specific marketing didn’t work then, it probably won’t work now (Tip two).Why you should never change what’s already working (Tip three).Identifying what you're spending on your budget, and why some "marketing" is team-building (Tip four).Timing your marketing: how to market strategically based on the ebbs and flows of your business (Tip five).Why you should always be aware of what your competitors are doing (Tip six).Hear how Andrew undercharged and thus undervalued his work. Why now is the time to not just get with the times, but to get ahead of the times instead!Picking a platform that suits you. Andrew’s breakdown of what goes into a marketing budget, and what he thinks each aspect should cost. Andrew’s business growth hack to calculate how much you should be spending on marketing (Tip seven). Identifying your marketing pain point: what is something you want in your business right now, and what happens if you can’t get it? How a marketing agency can give you the experience you might be lacking. Tweetables: “That's the cool thing about entrepreneurship, is that it offers the freedom of collaboration and the ability to do things on your own.” — @abrockenbush [0:01:35] “Everything digital is taking a lead [in marketing].” — @abrockenbush [0:09:46] “You have to know what your end goal is in order to know how to map out how you’re going to get there.” — @abrockenbush [0:10:58] “Now is the time to not just get with the times, but to get ahead of those times.” — @abrockenbush [0:20:44] “Social media is one of those digital marketing platforms where you don't have to have money, you can use time. For small business owners, that's big.” — John Fritzsching [0:27:01] “The big thing to remember is that your marketing budget should be up to 12% of your...

Welcome to another episode of the Business Growth Hacks Podcast. Today, we’re talking about podcasting: whether it's worth it, how you structure it, how it can benefit your business and more. We kick off our conversation with some statistics that prove the incredible reach of podcasts and touch on why the majority of them don’t last beyond the fourth or fifth episode. Tune in to hear why we think podcasting will benefit your business by building customer retention and boosting conversions (even if you don’t think it will). We compare podcasts and written content and encourage you not to wait too long, allowing your content to lose relevance. We point you in the direction of some resources to help you create quality podcasts, from refining the content to producing the audio. You'll also hear about the benefits of brand partnerships, and why this medium is so powerful to engage your audience before we dive into the first steps of planning and creating your podcast. We hope you join us to hear all this and more! Key Points From This Episode: An introduction to today’s topic: podcasting.Statistics that prove that the majority of Americans are familiar with podcasts as a tool.Why the majority of podcasts don’t last, which means consistency is really important.The limitations of FM radio that don’t exist in the podcasting world.Why podcasting will benefit your business, even if you don’t think it will.How podcasts can build customer retention and boost conversions.A comparison of podcasts and written content in terms of cost, time, and effort.Why it’s dangerous to wait too long: content relevance.The recording studios and marketing agencies available to help you create your podcasts.Brand partnerships and their benefits in content and as an advertising vertical.Using blog content as podcast content and vice versa. How podcasts are so effective in engaging your audience: joining the conversation while multitasking.The questions that listeners get to ask themselves during a podcast that blogs don’t facilitate.Defining who your listener should be is key, before format and content.How creating a podcast will bring you business and why it’s probably not as difficult as you think.We recommend that you try a poll on Instagram to see if you would have listeners to your podcast.Business hack of the day: just start, there’s a speaker in your phone! Tweetables: “The majority of podcasts never make it past their fourth or fifth episode. So, if you’re going to podcast, it’s all about consistency.” — @abrockenbush [0:04:30] “If you don’t think podcasting is going to help you grow your business then you should think again because I certainly think it will.” — @abrockenbush [0:10:56] “The faster you get this content out there, the quicker the opportunity of your target audience finding it.” — @abrockenbush [0:20:18] “When brands advertise their services on a podcast, they notice a 14% increase in purchase intent. So, this is good for not only you bringing on podcast hosts to your own podcast, but also for you as looking for a new advertising vertical.” — @abrockenbush [0:25:48] “Podcasts in your business are one of the most effective ways to have an engaged audience and that’s because they are getting to join the conversation.” — @abrockenbush [0:34:10] “There are so many podcasts out there, but that doesn’t mean that you...

In today's marketing landscape, your website has become a more powerful tool than ever. Assuming you already have your company off the ground, there are various different things you can do to make sure you get the most out of your website, from focusing on ‘above the fold’ design to keeping your call to actions simple, plus a whole lot more! In today’s episode of Business Growth Hacks, Andrew Brockenbush and John Fritzsching discuss some of the tried and true methods for driving traffic, boosting your revenue, and catering to every stage of the customer journey, as well as allowing your website to function as a 24/7 sales tool and build trust and credibility along the way. We also touch on site maps, selecting photo content, and the benefits of video and share some of our favorite tools for things like wireframing and discovering, consolidating, and communicating user needs, so make sure to tune in today to learn more! Key Points From This Episode: John’s words of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs in college: you don’t know it all yet!What Andrew would tell his younger self: don’t be afraid to learn through collaboration.The benefits of surrounding yourself with likeminded people who share your vision.Andrew shares the statistic that 94 percent of first impressions relate to your site’s design.How slow loading websites can lead to a $2.6 billion revenue loss each year.John on why your first step is to develop a plan; and make sure to write it down!What we mean by ‘above the fold’ design and why it’s the most important part of your site.Having your website pass the grunt test; what do you offer, how will it improve your customer’s life, and what do they need to do to buy it?Hear why John suggests including a free offering as a call to action on your website.Why you need different call to action options for different stages of the customer journey.The importance of keeping your call to action simple; don’t focus on too much at once!Learn about the value of sticking to one goal for every page when planning your site map.Why your website is your best sales tool; the new brick and mortar in a post-COVID world.If content is king, knowing your audience is queen; find the right content for the right people.Some of the reasons that choosing your photos wisely is key, starting with authenticity.Our biggest takeaway: in order to make a good first impression, your site must stand out.Discover how video can help you keep visitors on your site longer.Some of our favorite tools, including HotGloo wireframing and Hotjar heatmaps. Tweetables: “94 percent of first impressions relate to your site’s website design, which means, if you are not optimizing your website, building it, thinking about it, planning, [then] you are probably missing out on creating relationships, building trust [and] credibility.” — @abrockenbush [0:07:40] “When you spend so much time asking for too many things at once, you confuse the potential buyer, you confuse the customer. It’s like coming to a fork in the road and neither of them are very clear. Which path do [you] take?” — @abrockenbush [0:21:30] “Content is king, but knowing your audience has got to be queen – [you need] the right content for the right people. What platform is your target audience in? That’s where you need to go.” — John Fritzsching [0:31:42] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: HotGloo Hotjar Free Website

The digital age is booming, with 70% of marketers investing in content marketing. Not only are marketers expected to create content daily, on average, they also need to create audience segments for at least three different platforms. In today’s podcast, founder and CEO of Beefy Marketing, Andrew Brockenbush, talks to John about the benefits of an editorial calendar in building a marketing strategy. Andrew expertly explains how an editorial calendar is more than just a calendar — it’s a roadmap, and everyone from NGOs to small businesses can benefit from using one. We budget our finances, so why not budget our time? Day-to-day marketing content creation can be immensely time-consuming, and important dates and events can sneak up on you. Learn how Andrew uses an editorial calendar to ensure these opportunities are seized, and how you can apply these tips to your own operation. This episode breaks down how editorial calendars can be used to benefit content marketing, attain annual company goals, and even improve marketing strategy going forward! Key Points From This Episode: What business subscriptions you can’t live without.Why you need an editorial calendar.How to come up with social media content every single day.How being busy day-to-day can negatively affect your long-term plans.Why you need to plan for holidays your company associates with.Discover how to set sales goals using an editorial calendar.How your editorial calendar can help you come up with a business strategy.Why unplanned social media posts are not good enough to get your brand noticed.Who needs an editorial calendar: the three groups of customers.Why your content strategy should include the reasons potential customers need your solution.Tips to engage each of the three groups of customers.How an editorial calendar can help you with Search Engine Optimization.What types of impromptu posting you will benefit from.How an editorial calendar can guide your content marketing strategy.Why planning allows you to be more flexible.How to make your editorial calendar specific to you. Tweetables: “If you don’t budget your time, you’re going to find yourself out of time.” — John [0:04:36] “If you’re willing to invest in content marketing, how are you creating a strategy and game plan for that? Because it’s a poor investment if you don’t have a plan.” — @abrockenbush [0:05:32] “[An editorial calendar] lays out the roadmap for what your year is going to look like.” — @abrockenbush [0:08:49] “Your editorial calendar is going to help you make business decisions” — @abrockenbush [0:10:11] “If you’re doing the bare minimum, don’t expect great results — @abrockenbush [0:21:00] “You can be flexible and still plan” — John [0:22:00] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andrew Brockenbush on LinkedIn Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter Truebill Chewy Airtable Process Street Beefy Marketing Beefy Marketing on <a...

If you think that what your website looks like isn’t important to your business, think again. Research shows that 75% of people base the credibility of a business on how their website looks. In today’s episode, we run through a number of questions that we think are important to ask before you enter into a business relationship with a website designer. As website designers ourselves, we share how we would answer these questions, and what the red flags are to look out for. The key word in our discussion is transparency; not everybody is transparent, and it’s understandable that website designers are fearful of being open about their trade secrets, but transparency is something you should not compromise on when hiring a website designer. Our conversation covers everything from contracts to pricing to availability, and our advice will help you make an informed decision about an incredibly important element of your business. Key Points From This Episode: Andrew and John’s childhood career aspirations. A statistic which highlights the importance of prioritizing what your website looks like.The amount of money that a quarter of small businesses spend on their website.Understandable fears that website designers have around being transparent, and why those fears need to be overcome. Question number one that you should be asking the potential designer of your website. Value of speaking to the past clients of the website designer you are considering hiring. Why you should ask agencies about their process. The technology that we use for our processing at Beefy.A red flag to look out for when speaking to potential designers of your website.Why we recommend asking website designers how much time they have available.Examples of the other services that your website designer could offer you. The importance of ensuring your website is mobile friendly. Problems that occur if your website isn’t properly maintained.Benefits of looking at website designers’ portfolios.What a website designers contract should cover.Different approaches to pricing. Tweetables: “75% of people base the credibility of a business on how their website looks.” — @abrockenbush [0:04:59] “Don’t be afraid to research at all. If you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to ask a question or look into it.” — John [0:12:22] “If you don't have processes in place, you need to get them in place yesterday.” — John [0:16:39] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Process Street Sprout Social CoSchedule Later Agorapulse Hootsuite Gleam Andrew Brockenbush on Twitter Beefy Marketing Beefy Marketing Blog Small Business Nation

This week John and Andrew unpack their 6 key tips for creating a successful marketing plan for social media. We dive straight in by discussing how to identify your goals and interrogate why impressions and likes are often akin to vanity goals and don’t necessarily translate to higher ROI. Like anyone looking to grow their business, your time is a precious resource. Discover time-saving strategies like how to choose the platforms best suited for your business, as well as how to leverage your content for multiple mediums like blog writing, podcasting, and video content. We also unpack the value of contests and giveaways, and how social media can be an opportunity to showcase the character of your business in addition to your relationships with customers. If you're feeling intimidated by the massive undertaking of social media, or are looking to take your social media game to the next level, this is the episode for you! Make sure you tune in for plenty of useful tips and eye-opening insights! Key Points From This Episode: Some of the key activities entrepreneurs should be investing their time in.Statistics on the massive growth projected for social media users.Why you need to be investing in social media as an entrepreneur.The first thing you need to do is identify your goals, so you can gauge your progress.Why likes and impressions could be considered vanity goals.How to use social media to showcase your uniqueness and reach your niche audience.Why your time commitment needs to match your social media goals.How social media can reflect the character of your business and your relationship with your customers.How to choose the platforms that make the most interest for your business.Discover how to use one piece of content in a variety of different ways.Why posting consistently is integral and how to schedule posts for out-of-office days.Learn how to plan your social media and maximize your time.How to understand audience engagement statistics and optimize accordingly.Why social media is a place that doesn’t always need to be focused on your product.Discover how to expand your circle of influence.Why hosting contests and giveaways are massively important: to create a sense of reciprocity.How to use Gleam to manage your contests and giveaways.The importance of engaging with your customers and responding to comments.How consumers have changed and are considerably more informed. Tweetables: “If you pride yourself in being a funny laidback doctor's medical practice, yeah. Then your social media and your website, everything else needs to reflect that personality.” — @abrockenbush [0:17:21] “We're able to take that one blog post we wrote and turn it into three different formats, audio for podcasts, YouTube videos, as well as text-based content on social media, and then everywhere else. And all of that works together.” — @abrockenbush [0:23:11] “Social media is one of those places where it's not as important to stay all about your product all the time. In fact, that can get redundant.” — John [0:31:26] “It means a lot to your fans, your potential customers, when you actually engage with them.” — John [0:45:36] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Sprout Social CoSchedule Later Agorapulse Hootsuite <a...

SEO. What is it? How important is it for your business? Join your hosts, Andrew Brockenbush and John, as we dive into the small business secrets that successful entrepreneurs are implementing to see massive results, including the SEO keywords you should know and why you should be taking SEO seriously as part of your overall marketing strategy. In today’s episode, we share some effective SEO tips and tricks, like how to stay up to date with ever-evolving algorithms and make your domain more SEO-friendly. We also touch on some of the big SEO buzzwords and dispel outdated myths about keywords and backlinks. Tuning in, you’ll learn everything you need to know about clickthrough rate, bounce rate, link building, and user experience, plus a whole lot more, so make sure not to miss this episode full of practical advice and free resources! Key Points From This Episode: Entrepreneurial tricks John uses to help him stay focused, like giving himself deadlines.Our favorite features of Friday.app, a planner and asynchronous tool for remote work.Andrew shares a statistic that might make you reconsider SEO before social media.What exactly SEO means and what you didn’t know about search engine optimization.Paid advertising versus SEO; find out why SEO should be part of your marketing strategy.Why algorithms aren’t as scary as you think and how to stay up to date as they evolve.We debunk some outdated ideas about SEO keywords and backlinks.Andrew emphasizes the importance of quality backlinks as a key part of your SEO strategy.CTRs or clickthrough rates and how they impact the SEO ranking of your business.Why we suggest that you learn everything there is to know about bounce rate.How to make your domain more SEO friendly; keep it simple and on-brand!SEO keywords, both long-tail and short-tail, and why they are important.Think about the keywords and questions your ideal customer demographic is searching.Learn how to use free resources like Google Trends and Ubersuggest for keyword research.John and Andrew emphasize the value of transparency when working with an SEO expert.Everything you need to know about link building for SEO: tips and tricks for doing it right.Why user experience is the ultimate goal when driving traffic to your website. Tweetables: “SEO drives 1,000 percent more traffic than organic social media, which makes me [think]: if I have $1,200 a month to spend on something in my business that will help move the needle, then maybe I should consider SEO before social media.” — @abrockenbush [0:05:08] “If you ever want to rank on Google, backlinks are key. It is one of the most vital parts of a good SEO strategy.” — @abrockenbush [0:15:53] “If you were building your storefront, you would have to put in each and every piece of it. Your website is the same. Each and every piece of it – your domain, your SEO, your design – all of it works together.” — John [0:24:13] “If you are not utilizing SEO as part of your overall marketing strategy, then you’re losing – you’re losing out on new opportunities, new sales, new revenue, new customers, new relationships.” — @abrockenbush [0:43:56] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Friday.app Fiverr Google Trends...