More Than A Few Words

If you are like most business owners, right now you are stressing about something.  You are probably thinking if you could only get rid of that stress everything would be better.  But Allison Graham,  suggests some of that stress is actually helpful. She discusses three categories of stress: empowering stress, destructive stress, and survival stress. Empowering stress is characterized by feeling energized, in a state of flow, and capable of tackling challenging tasks. It's the positive stress that drives productivity and achievement. Destructive stress, on the other hand, leads to overwhelm, resentment, and negative impacts on both work and personal life. Survival stress is a natural response that alerts us to danger and sharpens our focus, but it can become counterproductive if not managed properly. The conversation delves into the nuances of recognizing empowering stress versus destructive stress. The key lies in understanding oneself, acknowledging individual patterns, and finding the optimal bal

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

Twenty years ago I wrote a book called the Science of Marketing and and recently I decided to update the book.  As I started editing, I realized most of the content is as accurate today as it was twenty years ago, Sure some of the examples are a bit out of date  because I talked a lot about postcards and radio advertising which really isn't appropriate for small businesses anymore.  However, the foundation and the thought process is still as relevant as it was twenty years ago.  So if you bought a copy of my book twenty years ago it's time to buy another.  And if you didn't get a chance to buy it then you can buy it now.  The Science of Marketing is available on Amazon.  Go ahead, buy it today! Then come back and listen to another episode  of More than a Few Words. 

Most of the time marketing planning consists of thinking about what are you going to do. My guest Derek Johnson suggests that maybe you need to be focused on the "who"  of marketing.  This involves creating content to build a personal brand and show the human side of business. People often prioritize the technical aspects of marketing, such as techniques, tech work, and funnels, while neglecting the human aspect that builds trust. Sharing personal stories and daily routines on platforms like Instagram can humanize the brand and create a strong connection with the audience. He encourages individuals to open up about their life stories, regardless of whether they had a challenging past or not. By doing so, they can establish authenticity, trust, and relatability with their audience. This approach is not  limited to Instagram; it can be applied across various platforms, such as LinkedIn, YouTube, and even TikTok. where you goal is not just to accumulate likes and comments but to create one-on-one interactions th

 Great websites don't happen by accident. Sierra Janisse believes every decision you make on your website from what images  you use to the words you write , the pages you create and all the call to action buttons starts with answering one basic question. What do you want your ideal clients to do when they come to your website.  What is your primary call to action for your visitors.  About Sierra Sierra Janisse of Sierra Lin Design is a Certified Master Marketer, Kajabi Web and Funnel Designer, and host of the free Branded Boss community. Sierra helps visionary coaches and service providers magnetize their perfect-fit clients through Aligned Authority Marketing--her signature framework combining branding, messaging, and funnel design. From building brands and websites for 7-figure coaches, TedX speakers, best-selling authors, and course creators serving students across the globe, Sierra has learned that all personal brands need one specific thing if they want to scale and serve more clients: to become uniquely

These days, it seems like everybody's talking about robots. It's easy to get swept up by trends like Google algorithm changes and AI generated content. But, guest Rai Hyde Cornell says those things are secondary to the most important factor in your marketing - the human beings  Too often, we think about the system or platform first. We wonder if we should jump into Threads or buy Google ads, but those decisions come after you decide who you are talking to.  About Rai Rai Hyde Cornell has been freelancing for more than 16 years as a copywriter turned agency owner. Now, she's sharing all of her most powerful business AND manifestation hacks with other freelancers. As a business mentor at Chiron Consulting, Rai hosts barrier-shattering workshops on pricing, client acquisition, and mindset and works one-on-one with private clients to help them triple their incomes within one year. As an agency owner at Cornell Content Marketing, Rai builds and executes psychology-informed content strategies for her clients while

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

One of the critical elements of building a marketing budget is understanding what a customer is worth.  Why? Because you can't decide how much to spend to acquire that customer if you don't really know the value of that customer. Too often business owners make the mistake of looking at what the customer is spending today and see that is the only value of the  customer. But, if you're in a business where customers come back time and time again, you need to look at the total picture to determine the complete value. If a customer stays with you three or five years, there's going to be additional sales revenue without that sales expense. And, there's more. When the customer really knows you and loves you they are more likely to talk about you to their friends and their families. This goodwill has the potential to create multiple new opportunities. So, as you start thinking about how much you can afford to spend to generate leads, you need to calculate the lifetime value of each customer. 

Content marketing has been around for a really long time.  And it is probably going to be around for a lot longer. But as new tools arise, many people wonder what the future of content marketing going to be like.  Professional writer and a humorist, Erik Deckers joined me to share his thoughts on that topic.  He explained content marketing has be around a lot longer than most of us imagine.  Archeologists have recovered Papyrus and carvings showing things for sale.  While content marketing has evolved, it is still about providing relevant information to prospective customers, and that core element probably won't change.   

One of the most important numbers in your business is your closing rate. The simple metrics tells you how well you are performing when face to face with a potential customer. The better your closing rate is the better your business.  Guest Bruce Scheer shares some of the mistakes companies make as they try to improve their closing rate:  Jumping immediately to price changes .While that may work in the short term it will hurt in the long term as you race competitors to the bottom of the market.  Random acts of sales or marketing.  Switching from one trendy tool or technique without an underlying strategy.    About Bruce Bruce Scheer works with industry giants and “scale-ups” to inspire their buyers and accelerate revenue growth. He is an award-winning consultant, author, keynote speaker, and president of the National Speakers Association Northwest. You can find him at www.inspireyourbuyers.com.  

Like many business owners I defined myself as the founder of my company, Roundpeg.  Lorraine Ball and Roundpeg were intricately linked.  The fact that the business was originally an outgrowth of my personality got lost along the way. I became an outgrowth of the business.  That was fine for 20 years until I sold Roundpeg. Suddenly that cornerstone of my brand was gone. So I've spent the last two years realigning, adjusting and figuring out who I am and what my brand is. The funny thing is that I have come to the conclusion that who I was when all of this started is exactly who I am today. My brand is the sum total of what I know about marketing and what I've done as a marketing professional over of these years. This is a lesson for every business owner.  Never lose sight of the that you are your brand. 

If you've been listening to More than a Few Words for any length of time you know I was born talking. Standing in front of a group of people or facing a microphone is not uncomfortable for me. But it is for many people.  Public speaking anxiety is a crippler for some people and  can get in the way of careers and businesses. Guest Rebecca Jabbar says the key to getting comfortable is to personalize the message with two very simply pieces of information explaining why you care about a particular topic and having an example ready to support your message.   About Rebecca Rebecca Jabbar is a coach and trainer with 25+ years’ experience in helping over 400 international professionals and 130 brands successfully deliver their media messages, she works with senior leaders on not only what to do to be a successful spokesperson, but how to do it. Founder of The Brand Champion Bootcamp, Rebecca is passionate that everyone required to represent their business should feel confident, and be engaging, authentic and credibl

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

I had the strangest phone call the other day. It was from someone I have known for a long time. I wouldn't call us friends, but our paths have crossed multiple times over the years so we are acquainted.  We chatted for a few minutes. He told me he had moved to Florida. I mentioned I sold my company and I am enjoying the slower pace. He barely acknowledged what I said and proceeded to launch into a pitch on his new venture. Unfortunately, I have no interest since, as I told him, I sold my agency. By the time I got off the phone I was annoyed, because he clearly had no interest in anything I had to say. Then I felt sorry for him. Not only had he failed to sell me, but he completely blew the chance to sell to my contacts. There was no way I was going to introduce him to anyone I actually liked.  So, before your hop on your next sales call, maybe you should brush up on your listening skills.  Pay attention to your body language. Make sure that you are facing your customer, making eye contact, and nodding your hea

When I started my agency in 2002, clients and friends called me the Postcard Queen.  I was working with small businesses and postcards were a wonderful way to get noticed.  Then along came email marketing and social media.  Direct mail seemed cumbersome and old fashioned in comparison. Travis Lee suggests as everyone has rushed towards digital it is no longer the bargain it once was. With auction style bidding for advertising the cost of click has increased dramatically, while the return has dropped.  So as everyone has rushed to digital, there is an advantage to considering alternatives, like direct mail. We are living in this digital world, but we are inundated with digital and there is much less competition in the mailbox. Everyone still collects their mail so it is still a great way to get in front of your ideal prospect.  About Travis Travis Lee is known as the expert in getting direct mail delivered, opened, and read. As co-founder and president of 3D Mail, he generates huge returns for thousands of bus

There is a cycle business owners get trapped in as they start to spiral toward burnout.  Coach Linsi Brownson says the first thing you need to do is recognize, you’re not doing anything wrong.  This is just a phase in your business. This is actually a really great moment to step back and realign the business, by going back to the drawing board and looking at three things: yourself, your business position and your operations. LOOK AT YOURSELF Take time to understand your energy capacity  What do you find energizing and what do you find draining. Then look at the lifestyle you want, not just sometime in the future, but now.  Then look for ways to align your business model so that it actually supports you as a person and  your lifestyle DEFINE YOUR UNIQUE POSITION Look at your actual business model to identify your biggest opportunities. Outline the the things you offer which make me the most money, are the most popular with clients and create the biggest impact for customers. Double down on those activities. Th

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

You have to go where your customers are Social media is about engagement. This is something businesses forget when they start to use it as a broadcast tool. Just because you’re posting information out there doesn’t mean that anyone is actually paying attention. So one of the most important things you can do to get the most out of your social media is to pay attention to your engagement numbers.  Are people liking, sharing and commenting on your content? Are they interacting with you? If they’re not, it’s a good time to stop and change your approach.  Create more content designed to engage people. Ask questions, comment on content other people are sharing. If you do that, and you still aren’t getting the response you are hoping for, it is possible that you’re trying to talk to the wrong audience. While Facebook has the most monthly active users, your product may or may not fit there. As you’re planning your strategy and evaluating your results look at who’s on the platform and decide if this is the right place

So you want to be a podcast guest.  Before you start reaching out to potential shows my guest, Joe Matz suggests you need to start with Why do you want to be a podcast guest. There are a number of reasons. Some people, have just launched a book and they want to do a virtual book tour. Others want to get their authority positioning out there. Joe also mentioned, SEO because when you're on a podcast, you get links back to your website. So the podcast increases your backlinks. Other reasons might include reaching new audiences. If reaching new audiences is you goal, start by looking at what podcasts are they listening to? That's where you want to go!   About Joe  Joe is a Certified Professional Coach who excels in building value and developing a plan for success using a systematic approach to create a unique business that stands out from the crowd, delivers results, and transforms a business into a money making machine. His goal is straightforward – to help serious business owners see a dramatic and immediate in

From our archive. This conversation with Sharyn and Hank Yuloff was originally released in August of 2021.  If you missed it then you are in for a treat.  This was a fun, lively conversation about the marketing path.   As you drive down the road, you have to be ready to make small adjustments.  The same is true for your marketing. This week's guests, Sharyn and Hank Yuloff,  think you need to stop thinking about your marketing as if the plan was carved in stone.  Instead, you should view it as a path that will need to be adjusted along the way.  You need to keep your hand on the wheel, so you can make the small changes to your program as conditions change.   About Hank and Sharyn Hank and Sharyn Yuloff bring a very unique perspective to clients who wish to have their marketing efforts reach new focus. Hank is a targeted marketing tactician with a background in advertising and public relations who has helped small businesses get bigger for over 35 years. Sharyn’s path went through the business affairs and huma