The Small Business Big Marketing Podcast with Tim Reid

Do you want to start a venture close to your heart? If you’re going to build a business with a value proposition that resonates with your clients—your pitch, your objective and your target audience will be crucial to your success. Family legacy producer Tony Knight pursued a job that he loves, and it made all the difference in his life. You can do the same, too. In today's episode, Tony joins us to talk about his startup journey in chronicling other people's lives through film. He also shares the marketing strategies that he uses in reaching out to potential clients. This episode is especially helpful for those who wish to turn their passion into a business. Sit back, relax, and make sure that you tune in to the show to know how you, too, can choose and thrive in doing the job that you love. About today’s guest Tony Knight Tony Knight is the Managing Director of This Is My Life where he and his team create a highly personal and individual history of clients' lives, which generations to come can see. They create a professional and artistic record of life moments that individuals and family alike will embrace forever. He is also the principal photographer and image-maker of his studio, Tony Knight Photography. You can connect with Tony Knight through: This Is My Life’s LinkedInThis Is My Life’s websiteThis Is My Life’s Facebook To inquire about their services, you may call (03) 8786 1919 or 0417 588 722. What we discussed in episode 494 The importance of documenting everything Dealing with turning points in the business Pursuing your gut feeling Learning to build up equity in past experiences The birth of This Is My Life Creating a family legacy through his business The filming process: getting to know the client, gathering photos and videos, building a timeline, and asking questions How did choosing to do a job he loves change his outlook in life? The beauty of the industry: hiring skilled freelancers and subcontractors Marketing with SEO and social platforms The best and worst marketing What clients are looking for This week’s Top 3 Attention Grabbers That's it for this interview with Tony Knight! I'd like to share what grabbed my attention while chatting with Tony. I think there's a great lesson in what Tony shared about knowing when it's time to get out of what you're doing and chase something that will set your heart on fire. I love how he sought some PR on radio station 3AW. Also, I do think he should consider taking up some advertising at the same station. (For more radio advertising insights, check out this episode with Dan Presser of Sunraysia Prune Juice.) I love how he actively sought out training on SEO. It shows his respect for marketing. (Although I'd prefer he outsources it—more about that in an upcoming episode.) What grabbed your attention? Let me know in the comments below. This week's Monster Prize Draw winner Congratulations to Nicholas Paton, an electrician and the owner of Plateau Electrical.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marketing real estate property is more than just churning out vlogs and property videos then waiting for clients to start rolling in. Building your online presence and expanding your reach takes hard work and knowledge of your target market. Beverly Hills real estate agent and content marketing ninja Peter Lorimer is here to tell us all about it. Did you know that Peter used to work as a sought-after producer in the music industry? He has worked with some of the biggest names in music, accumulating over #1 Billboard chart hits by his retirement in 2003. Today, Peter takes us through the lessons he learned in the music industry to carving his brand of real estate in the LA property market. His punk rock approach and social media savvy allow him to build relationships and trust with the people drawn to his philosophy. Tune in to learn about creating an identity that works for you and how to bring your brand to the people who need it. About Peter Lorimer Peter Lorimer was a successful music producer with over 30 #1 Billboard chart hits before taking his talents to the LA property market. He has launched his punk rock real estate business in the heart of Beverly Hills. His hand-picked swat team of creatives at PLG Estates dance to the beat of their drums while living at the bleeding edge of their industry. Lessons from the music industry to working in real estate Living in gratitude Appreciate the things in your life that make you feel blessed and lucky. Get out of bed with an eagerness to work hard and to be of service. Do not let self-doubt dictate how you go about your business. Beginnings of a music career Peter used music as an escape from gangs, crime, and fighting. From classical music, Peter moved into the nightclub scene and worked his way into becoming a record producer Working in the music industry taught Peter how to treat people respectfully. It translated very well into his real estate career. Fear is a cunning, baffling and crippling foe. Do not let it keep you from going at your goals. From sex, drugs and rock & roll to sparkling water and open houses Living a life of excess weighs heavy on you. Realising where you are and where you want to be in the future is crucial to your ability to change your life’s direction. Leave your ego out the door. Grind it out and learn your new craft. Keep your eyes on your goals. For Peter, it was starting his own firm and pulling the levers behind the curtains. Punk rock real estate Do not hesitate to break away from traditional real estate marketing. Work with the people you want to work with; do not attempt to fit in. Sell trust. Build a good relationship with people drawn to your style. Own your space in the market and dig deep. Do not get bothered by everything going around your space. Capture your target audience with social media Customise your content to suit the communities you intend to reach. Use digital platforms to get yourself in front of your target clients. Build relationships and keep them alive on and off social media. You can tailor your online presence to show the various facets of your personality. Prospect your database rather than rely on online leads. The 666 rule The 666 Rule refers to 6 emails, 6 text messages, and 6 DMs a day. Categorise your leads based on how well you know them. Peter recommends 18 touches a day per category. Do not be affected by the results. Divorce yourself from expectations and keep doing the job. The boomerang effect The more you put into your marketing, the more it will return multiples. Remain in action and work as hard as you can. Craft your individuality through marketing and increase your digital footprint. If you want to learn more about real estate and marketing strategies, check out Peter Lorimer’s personal website, and PLG Estates. This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner Graham Forrester, Managing Director of NVMS Solutions. This week’s podcast sponsor This mind-expanding episode 493 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show is brought to you thanks to Your Ultimate Marketing Resources List. Thanks also to Charley and the team at Valher Media for putting this episode together. If something in this episode of Australia's favourite marketing podcast piqued your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is your idea of marketing? If you think it’s merely promoting a product and persuading people into buying it, think again. Marketing Hall of Famer Seth Godin believes marketing should go deep into what your customers believe in, identify as, and the narrative they tell themselves when they purchase your product or service. Episode 492 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show is a stimulating conversation with Seth, as he explains why marketing is work that matters for people who care. I guarantee you'll get fresh perspectives and inspiring marketing advice from this episode. Make sure to tune in to find out the truths about marketing and how you can be successful in it. About Seth Godin Seth Godin is an author, entrepreneur and most of all, a teacher. Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 19 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His most recent book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!). By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world. In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both. Seth’s riffs on marketing for small business What is marketing? ‘Marketing is the generous act of helping someone solve a problem—their problem’. It has to do with whether you have earned trust and attention by making a promise and keeping it. ‘Marketing is work that matters for people who care’. Marketing is the story that you live and being able to identify who it is for. ‘Marketing helps others become who they seek to become’. It is not advertising, and it is not concerned with trivial hype. Some of Seth’s important ideas What you need to do is to matter, even if only for a few specific people. You should have empathy for customers and strive to give them what they need. ‘Price is the last refuge for the marketer who has nothing better to say’. Your goal should be for your past clients to be confident in vouching for you. ‘The magic of a small business is not to pretend that we're a big business that got shrunk. The magic of small businesses is to embrace the fact that we don't need to be Walmart to be happy’. If you figure out who your base is, you need to make things for that group of people. Standing out VS Being remarkable Standing out is easy to attain, but it won't give you the following you seek. ‘Being remarkable means that the people you care about will talk about you to other people you care about, and they'll talk about you in a positive way that causes forward motion’. Being remarkable is self-cleaning and self-limiting. The right marketing attitude Don’t become selfish and cut corners because that becomes a problem. Don’t try to persuade people to go to you. Instead, make sure that enough people are already going to you regardless. It’s all in the belief in the product and not the product itself. What story are you letting people tell themselves? Social media marketing Remember that you are not the customer. You, your data and your attention are the product. Buy attention only when you have to; earn and treasure attention when you can so it doesn’t cost you. What your audience wants you to do is to lead them and connect them. Stay true to yourself by not conforming to the feedback of people whom your content is not intended for. There is no such thing as authenticity. Everyone is playing a role. Resources mentioned by Seth Seth’s official website Seth’s blog Seth’s podcast called Akimbo   Seth on Facebook Seth on Twitter   This is Marketing by Seth Godin Purple Cow by Seth Godin This week's Monster Prize Draw winner Wayne Stanbrough of Runnymede Fire & Safety. Top 5 SEO tips for 2020 SEO expert and founder of Melbourne-based SEO agency Meeum Sam Hemphill offers these 5 tips for getting found on Google this year: Write your content like a human, not a robot Optimise your website's loading speed Install Google Analytics then measure, analyse and fix what it's telling you is broken Seek reviews and testimonials Seek opportunities for website collaborations Grab a copy of SEO for Australian Small Business here And here's the links Sam Hemphill mentioned to help with your SEO: Measure site speed with GT Metrix Also measure site speed with Google Pagespeed Insights Measure, analyse and fix with Google Analytics, HotJar and Google Search Console Seek out reviews and testimonials especially from Google My Business, as well as any other testimonial opportunities in your niche like Facebook, Yelp, TrustPilot and TripAdvisor. In case you missed the last three episodes Episode 491Selling secrets of mater door-to-door salesman Chandler Smith Episode 490Multiple revenue streams have created a 7-figure business for swimming coach Brenton Ford Episode 489Proven business growth strategies from one of Australia’s best founders Episode 492 sponsor This mind-expanding episode 492 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show is brought to you thanks to Your Ultimate Marketing Resources List. Thanks also to Charley and the team at Valher Media for putting this episode together. If something in this episode of Australia's favourite marketing podcast piqued your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Successful door-to-door selling takes more than having an excellent product. It involves the clever use of psychology, persuasion, and social cues, all working together to help you close the deal. The master door-to-door sales expert Chandler Smith knows this well and has all the secrets you need to know. Did you know that he earned $220,000 in his first year? And he’s gone on to recruit and mentor over 800 sales representatives. Today, new doors will open for you as Chandler discusses the best selling approach and the winning mindsets and strategies to build rapport with every person behind every door. Aside from sales advice, you’ll also get effective psychological methods you can apply in your life. Make sure to tune in to super-charge your sales skills and ability to connect with people - it even involves guns and nudity!   About Our Guest: Chandler Smith is the master door-to-door sales expert and a regional sales manager at Aptive Environmental, a pest control service in North America. He began his door-to-door experience on a church mission and eventually became a door-to-door salesman while in college. After earning $220,000 in his first year (in his first 4-months actually!), he has gone to recruit, train, and mentor more than 800 sales representatives over the last six years.   Chandler Smith’s Secrets to Door-to-Door Selling The Right Attitude The most successful sales reps can purge everything that happened that day and treat the door they're knocking on like it’s the most important door. Be positive, friendly and agreeable to get the other person to like you. Most people will build urgency as an excuse to reject you. Reverse the urgency and turn it into your opportunity. Treat it like a game with points. Enough points will close your deal. The Correct Body Language Smile at them and nod your head with the goal of reciprocation. Establish eye contact but break it enough to keep it comfortable. The faster you talk, the worse off you are; slow down and try to make the customer mirror you. Stand at a 90-degree angle instead of aggressively facing them. Look and behave like a professional and busy sales representative. How to Avoid Rejection Break eye contact and slow down during the initial part of your pitch where they can cut you off. Create a script for the first 30 seconds, which includes your every action to elicit an endorphin release. Use the “Resolve-Ace-Close” model. Build value to your service by giving an additional service or a price drop. Who Excels in Door-to-door Selling Someone who has a good work ethic, a positive attitude and the ability to handle rejection. It may seem like a job more suitable for young male students, but in reality, anyone can excel. People are people. There are always ways to connect with someone despite coming from different cultures. How to Train Sales Representatives Invest in training your sales reps for free even if they don’t end up sticking it through. Leaders are daily role models who provide motivation, quality training and enthusiasm to the team. Hold competitions to incentivize employees and relieve negativity from rejections and hardships. How Door-to-Door Selling Works Income for sales reps should be all commissions and no stable salaries to motivate them to improve. The pay scale starts at 18% commission up to 50% commission based on production. Door-to-door selling is suitable for industries related to pest control, solar panels, security systems, satellite and TV services, cell phone plans and similar niches. Resources Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff Here’s an interview I did with Oren Klaff Door-to-Door Millionaire by Lenny Gray If you are interested in improving and training your door-to-door selling skills, you can check out Chandler’s Youtube channel and website for more information. You may also connect with him through LinkedIn or Instagram.   This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner: Benjamin Selby-Hele of I Choose Awesome. Ben likes to make his mornings productive, waking up at 4 am and training at the gym. Not only does he make use of his mornings as a way to be physically productive, but he also regularly listens to the podcast for his mental wellbeing! Ben and I Choose Awesome provide the following services: Gym consultancy to developers of residential apartment buildings Delivery of gym services like personal training, classes, and gym management into residential apartment buildings’ gyms They also sell ICA bands and share inspirational videos, quotes and images to their Instagram followers.  Ben’s model is relatively new, so he’s striving to improve it. After securing his first building in March, he spends over 40 hours weekly in the gym space, giving personal training, closing up after residents and managing the gym. He acknowledges it’s not easy to start a business from scratch. There would be ups and downs and self-doubt, constantly asking yourself if you did the right thing. His wife also recently gave birth, and it only served to amplify a lot of his worry. However, since he discovered the show, he’s been incredibly inspired and excited for his business and the day ahead.   This week’s podcast sponsor: This challenging episode 491 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show is brought to you thanks to Your Ultimate Marketing Resources List. Thanks also to Charley and the team at Valher Media for putting this episode together. If something in this episode of Australia's favourite marketing podcast piqued your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your business is relying on just one source of revenue then it’s time to reconsider your business model. Swimming coach Brenton Ford did … and now business is going swimmingly.  In fact, he’s about to have his first 7-figure year. And he’s a swimming coach! Today, it’s a wet-behind-the-ears episode 490 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show as Brenton Ford of Effortless Swimming is here to talk about using multiple revenue streams to increase your business’ traffic and eventually help you earn more.  You’ll get lots of ideas and insights about how you can do this through various offline and online tools, such as training camps, online courses, podcasting, and video content. Make sure to tune in and find out how you can effectively increase your traffic and revenue.   About Our Guest: Brenton Ford is a national swimmer and coach who has taught a lot of champion swimmers in Australia. He is also the winner of the Australian National Master Swim Coach of the Year award in 2012. Ford is the brains behind Effortless Swimming, a platform of techniques and workouts to improve his clients’ swimming skills. He aims to share methods that will work for a broader audience across the world.    Using Multiple Revenue Streams to Earn More for Your Business Offline and Online Offers Effortless Swimming holds training camps to help swimmers get better at the sport. This offline offer gave them the opportunity to personally interact with their audience and give them more value. There are a lot of opportunities to strike up connections and build lasting relationships. They offer an online course alongside an annual membership fee. The online course allows people from different parts of the world to experience the services, including Brenton’s analysis of their swimming technique. Client retention: Get the people to use your products and services and show them the value they can get. Creating Content Design content that matters to your target market. Craft witty and catchy titles. Decide on a schedule for your posts. Use videos to show what you can offer to the market. Chop your video into bite-size snippets that tackle essential points. Using Social Media Upload your videos on YouTube. Maximize reach by sharing the link on Facebook and Instagram. You may also upload the video on Facebook and Instagram as an Instagram TV episode. Using Podcast Determine when you are posting your content. Be consistent with your schedule to increase engagement. Include a subtle call to action in each episode. Share stories from real people who benefited from your service or product. Podcasting is an excellent way to reach potential clients and sales. Getting Traffic and Engagement Entice your audience by giving away free content. Get personal with your audience by hiring a person to help you in answering your email support. Adhere to a strict schedule in posting your content. Work and Life Balance Finish work ahead of time. Find time for yourself—no emails or phones. Discover or learn a hobby to do when not working, like swimming. Catch Brenton’s swimming tips and tricks on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram or tune in to the Effortless Swimming podcast. You may also connect with him on Twitter.   This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner: Amanda McDonald of The Shower Man Melbourne. Amanda and her hubby have implemented a huuuuge number of strategies they have heard on the podcast over the past year, and it has seen their business skyrocket.  Here’s a taste of what they have been doing…  Vehicle wrapping/signwriting on the three work vans/utes. Print material- referral flyers offering free movie tickets per booked referral that we leave at jobs after completion, along with care guides. SEO tweaking using Upworker who has been working with us all year and is doing great. Systemising! This has been the biggest and hardest to implement however we are getting there, now in our work app our guys complete checklists as they do the job and it's all systemised so that nothing is missed, so now in the office we have a clear picture of when to invoice, and when things are done. I also systemised everything I do and handed 80% of the admin over to a VA I hired in the Philippines. Automated as many tasks as I could. JFDI with Michelle Bridges - this has been pivotal to me actually biting the bullet and making changes and taking on more risk We send automated emails to collect reviews now. We offer a % discount flyer now that gets sent out with a quote for jobs booked within seven days of the quote to create urgency. Started using Zapier. Started using Google Forms for selections instead of a million emails back and forth. Made some small partnerships with others in our industry. Hired a business coach- I now spend dedicated time working on the business instead of in it 24/7, not as much time as I would like but we are getting there. Started screen recordings for my systemising how to's. Moved everything to G Suite. Outsourcing bookkeeping/payroll. Making blog posts on our website to send to clients with questions instead of us explaining the same thing all the time. Providing a "next level customer experience" to our clients, looking at all their pain points and trying to make every interaction they have with us blow them away. Replaced our email signatures so that they are responsive and market what we do.   This week’s podcast sponsor: This mind-expanding episode 490 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show is brought to you thanks to Your Ultimate Marketing Resources List. Thanks also to Charley and the team at Valher Media for putting this episode together. Tune in to Australia’s favourite marketing podcast to learn more about what it takes to market your brand successfully. May your marketing be the best marketing.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing a new product or a business to the market can be hard and frustrating for new entrepreneurs. It is vital to have an eye for opportunities and be able to use it to leverage and get the approval of consumers. We're back with Mark Livings of Lyre's Spirit Co, whose mission is to change the way the world drinks. Since the previous interview with Mark, Lyre's has reached tremendous success locally and internationally, racking up 21 distributors across the globe. Today, he's here with us to talk about the challenges in scaling, as well as the most effective growth and marketing strategies. Just like the first interview, you'll get tremendous business and marketing insights and know-how from this episode. Make sure to tune in to find out how you can also scale successfully.   About Our Guest: Mark Livings is the founder of Lyre's Spirits Co, a globally distributed non-alcoholic spirits brand. He is also a co-founder of a diverse portfolio of businesses in the FMCG/CPG industry across marketing and advertising, logistics and fulfilment, consumer brand creation, as well as print and merchandise production. He is the Director of the Aussie Founders Network and an Executive Board Member of the Queensland Olympic Council.   The Secrets To Successful ScalingThe Growth Of Lyre's Only six months into their journey, Lyre's had already entered New Zealand, US, and UK markets PLUS 17 other international markets. Finding their “Goldilocks' zone" distributor has been formative to the brand's growth. From January 2020, Lyre's will be available in Sainsbury's UK. The Long Road Versus The Short Road The long road: You find a distributor, and then wait to get a meeting. After that comes the presentation, negotiation of price, until you get to the contract. The short road: Optimizing the network of investors. Through the short route, they were able to present Lyre's to Sainsbury's Future Brands team. Having The Right Mindset "Meetings can change the destiny of your business as you run them." You have to tell your story and show your passion. The centrepiece of every entrepreneur's presentation should be improving the customer experience. Quantify the opportunity and show how your brand fits into the changing landscape of consumer behaviour. Three Biggest Wins First: Bagging multiple awards for the quality of their product. Second: Forming a partnership with Amazon. Third: Putting together an incredible team. The Importance Of Networks and Relationships Never forget to water the garden of the network. Introductions are formative to business success. Mark's number one tip: start early. "Do it often with high-quality people that share your vision and principles." Be empathetic with the people to whom you're selling. The Business Journey Getting people to repurchase your product is highly dependent on the quality of your product. Become an advocate; create an emotional connection with your brand. Forming an online community and using incentives can move people to advocacy and turn them into absolute rabid fans. Language In The Industry They named it "Lyre's Spirit" because people are familiar with the word, and it is associated with the high intensity that you associate with beverages. Technology and human languages simultaneously evolve. Growth And Marketing Strategy Mark's number one growth strategy is the distributor model. Their resolve is to only sell their products in channels where alcoholic products are available. They focus on helping the media articulate and using brand ambassadors to educate what their products are. The Challenges In Scaling You can't be inflexible in adapting to different markets. Localise your brand, but keep it consistent. Keeping the company's vision Keeping Yourself Together Build systems and processes that alleviate the number of hours spent on scaling the business. It is vital for everyone in the team to support each other. Recognise limits as well. Resources Our previous interview with Mark Livings You can reach Mark on his LinkedIn profile.  Get your non-alcoholic spirits today at Lyre's website - use the discount code FRIENDS50. You can also visit their Facebook page for more updates.   This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner: Andrew Simpson of My Health Team - a team of high performing physiotherapists, podiatrists, exercise physiologists, psychologists and dietitians all working in sync to help you fix your pain, all under the one roof.   This week’s podcast sponsor: This mind-expanding episode 489 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show is brought to you thanks to Your Ultimate Marketing Resources List. If something in this episode of Australia's favourite marketing podcast piqued your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the idea of building a profitable business that turns over $15M after just 5-years appeal? What about winning a swag of business and personal awards along the way? I thought it would. Well, Flora & Fauna’s Julie Mathers has done just that, and bacon has played no role whatsoever! It’s a very Vegan episode 488 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show thanks to American Express and my very own marketing book … The Boomerang Effect.   A little bit more about Flora & Fauna’s Julie Mathers … Julie Mathers (with her hubby Tom) founded Flora & Fauna, the world’s largest self-funded, 100% vegan store just 5-years ago with a crystal clear vision to become the most responsible retailer possible, offering the world’s best customer service.   Well, she’s doing something right, as 5-years on, Flora & Fauna: Stocks 6,500 products Will turn-over $15M this year And Julie was recently named #1 in the Online Retailing Industry Association’s Top 50 People in Australian eCommerce AS WELL AS their Business Person of the Year   Here’s why you’ll be better off after this chat: You’ll discover how and why being a purpose-driven business grows your bottom line How being ethical is also a solid growth strategy How you can build a tribe of loyal customers who are with you for life Why employing people with disabilities is good for business And plenty more   I started off by asking Julie what it’s like to have grown such a successful business in such a short time, whilst doing a load of good for the planet ....   “Don’t look at employing people with disabilities as a burden or a cost … see it as an opportunity.”   - Julie Mathers, Flora & Fauna   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Flora & Fauna’s Julie Mathers: I love how Julie’s so succinctly articulated her purpose as helping the world make kinder choices. I love how showing kindness and compassion has lead to Flora & Fauna having a very inclusive workplace. I love that she’s created her own house brand called Green & Kind.   “It’s really, really important to know why you’re doing what you’re doing. And unless you can be incredibly authentic about it, and really honest with yourself as well,then you’re going to struggle (in business).”   - Julie Mathers, Flora & Fauna   Other resources mentioned in episode 488 of The Small Business Big Marketing Show: Flora & Fauna on Facebook Flora & fauna on Twitter Flora & Fauna on Instagram Flora & Fauna on YouTube Last week’s interview with Lumber Punk's Tyson McMillan Interviews I’ve done with other business owners who are doing a world of good: A Nourished Life’s Irene Falcone Nick & Lucas from Orange Sky Laundry Jenn Lim of Delivering Happiness   This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner: Dave Harrisson of Heavy Metal Merchant - an online store dedicated to providing best official heavy metal merchandise.     Please support the following businesses who make this show possible:   American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   Switchnode Australia’s Internet isn’t great. That’s why Switchnode exist. The solution is here and it’s wireless.   If something in this episode of Australia’s favourite marketing podcast peaked your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing. [ For more interviews with successful business owners visit Small Business Big Marketing ]Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love how people make a living. Past guest Shane Yeend makes money selling the usage-rights to the Hollywood sign. Adam Lippin sells cuddles. Laura Klien has a million dollar business selling battery-powered snot suckers! And today’s guest makes a quid from showing people how to throw axes … indoors!   It’s time to sharpen your axe and get stuck in to episode 487 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show thanks to American Express.   A little bit more about Lumber Punks Tyson McMillan … Tyson McMillan used to be a stand-up comedian, until one day in 2015 he was throwing axes in his backyard with his mate Sam. It was at that point that he looked Sam lovingly in the eyes and said “Hey Sammy … we should do this for a living!” They did and Lumber Punks - an indoor axe-throwing business - was born. Now Lumber Punks has three venues across Australia and the boys are having the time of their life. So what can you learn from a bloke who loves throwing axes? Great question. We talk about: How to get a crazy idea to market How to establish meaningful partnerships  with local businesses How one lucky PR opportunity launched the entire business The 3-pillars of the Lumber Punks business that lead to its success The importance of social currency Plus plenty more Now, with Tyson being an ex stand-up comedian, I felt compelled to kick things off with a joke ...   “You need to have a healthy taste for risk when it comes to throwing axes!” - Tyson McMillan, Lumber Punks   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Lumber Punks Tyson McMillan: I love the fact that Tyson is focussing on what they’re good at - as he so eloquently put it “We’re good at throwing axes … not coffee!” I love Tyson’s view on how music can positively impact a business - how it can help tailor an experience to the individual. I love Tyson’s focus on building social currency amongst his tribe of loyal axe-throwers - to the point that he even makes sure there’s Lumber Punks branding behind the photos people take and share on their social media channels.   “When it comes to investing in and growing any part of your business, put in as much as you’re willing to lose.”   - Tyson McMillan, Lumber Punks   Other resources mentioned in episode 487 of The Small Business Big Marketing Show: Lumber Punks on Instagram Lumber Punks on Facebook Lumber Punks on YouTube Last week’s interview with customer experience expert Jonathan Barouch Interviews I’ve done with other business owners who sell interesting things: Snotty Noses’ Laura Klien Adam Lippin calls himself the Cuddlist Aussie Shane Yeend sells the rights to the world-famous Hollywood sign   This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner: Lynda Fairweather of The Happy Paws Club - a pet-sitting business based in NSW.   Please support the following businesses who make this show possible: American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   Switchnode Australia’s Internet isn’t great. That’s why Switchnode exist. The solution is here and it’s wireless.   If something in this episode of Australia’s favourite marketing podcast peaked your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing. [ For more interviews with successful business owners visit Small Business Big Marketing ]Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally! Finally, thanks to Local measure's Jonathan Barouch, we’re all going to discover how to create an incredible customer experience that will make it easier to do business with us, infinitely more enjoyable and crazily shareable. It’s a highly experiential episode 486 of The (award-winning) Small Business Big Marketing Show thanks to American Express.   A little bit more about Local Measure’s Jonathan Barouch … Marketing is full of jargon, right? And probably the most bandied around term of recent years has been customer experience, or CX as those in the know like to call it. But what is it? Why’s it important? How can it help grow my business? And if it can, how do I get some of that action? All excellent questions, which are about to be answered by customer experience expert Jonathan Barouch, who is the founder of real-time customer intelligence company Local Measure .... and is also one of Australia’s most respected tech entrepreneurs. Local Measure is next generation customer experience (mainly in the hospitality, travel & tourism sectors), providing highly-targeted, real-time customer intelligence, insight and demographic info to businesses about their customers. So if the idea of wowing those precious customers of yours appeals, then grab a pen and paper (I know, how old school!) and get ready to be wowed yourself. I started off by asking Jonathan to share the best customer experience he’d ever had.   “It’s so much easier for a small business to deliver an incredible customer experience than it is for a big one.”   - Jonathan Barouch, Local Measure   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Local Measure’s Jonathan Barouch: I love the idea of giving deep consideration to the end-to-end journey of the customer as they travel through your business, the whole time asking yourself “How do I want my customer to feel?” I love that Jonathan acknowledges that B2B and B2C are just a distraction from the real way of doing business which is H2H (human-to-human) or P2P as I like to call it … people-to-people.  Be mindful of the fact that every customer now has a megaphone and more and more are willing to use it, thanks to social media, Google Reviews, and other review sites. So actively seek good reviews and testimonials, and be sure to respond to the good and bad ones.   “We need to start looking at our customers more holistically … from every angle …. And all the way along the purchase cycle.”   - Jonathan Barouch, Local Measure   Resources mentioned in episode 486 of The Small Business Big Marketing Show: Local Measure’s official website Great customer experience case studies on the Local Measure website Last week’s interview with rockstar Lachy Doley on how to make it big in the cut-throat music industry Interviews I’ve done about customer experience: Jay Baer on how to deal with customer complaints Joshua Nichols on his 21-step customer manifesto Zappo’s Jenn Lim on delivering happiness   This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner Peter Braid of Braid & Co   Please support the following businesses who make this show possible:   American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   Switchnode Australia’s Internet isn’t great. That’s why Switchnode exist. The solution is here and it’s wireless.   If something in this episode of Australia’s favourite marketing podcast peaked your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing. [ For more interviews with successful business owners visit Small Business Big Marketing ]Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accomplished musician and small business owner Lachy Doley is a world-leading expert on the Hammond Organ. He’s also Jimmy Barnes’s keyboard player and he played for Powderfinger back in the day. He’s no slouch! In this very honest and open interview he shares how he makes a living from one of the world's toughest industries.   A little bit more about Lachy Doley … Righto, so a few years ago, this fellow by the name of Lachy Doley sent me an email (out of the blue) saying he listened to my show when touring, and that he loved it so much that he’d gone ahead and wrote, sang and recorded a new intro and music bed for me. I took a listen, loved it, and have been using it ever since.  I then rang to thank him and offer to get him some work. He politely replied that he was busy enough as he was Jimmy Barnes’s keyboard player. For oversea’s listeners, I’ll explain who Jimmy Barnes is during the interview, suffice to say he’s no slouch … and neither is Lachy. In fact, he's one of the world’s leading Hammond Organ aficionados.   “My ultimate goal is to win people over so that they'll have enough of a connection to you the person or artists that they’ll want to buy your music, merch, tickets to gigs … as soon as you put out anything they just want to get it. That’s what I’m always aiming for.”   - Lachy Doley   So why am I interviewing a well-established musician on this show? And why are they even listening to a show like this? Because Lachy is a small business owner just like you ... and whilst he’s played with some of Australia's biggest bands including Barnsey and Powderfinger … he also has his own band and he constantly has to hustle for live gigs, to sell more CDs, merch … put simply, he too has to make a living.   Now this is a very honest chat in which we cover: How he built his profile How he manages to bring his A-game to every gig Why he sent a heart-felt email to his listeners and what impact it had Plus he talks about the multitude of revenue streams he’s created in order to make a living    As a wannabe rockstar myself, I started off by asking Lachy to indulge me by explaining what it’s like to walk out on stage to tens of thousands of screaming fans …   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Lachy Doley: I loved Lachy’s honesty and transparency. When was the last time you let your guard down in front of a customer, employee or supplier? Would you even dare? I love the fact that Lachy has multiple revenue streams including an e-Course, (print on-demand merch). I’ve linked to both in the show notes. And I love the fact that he’s segmenting his email list when people sign up.   What was your main take-away from this chat?   “I was so inspired by Powderfinger and their work ethic … they were a huge democracy. They were always doing meetings, they were just on to it all the time.” - Lachy Doley   Here’s that email Lachy sent back in 2017 THE TRUTH ABOUT MY CAREER, FAMILY AND THE RELEASE OF MY NEW ALBUM #LOVELIGHT I'm not gonna lie. I'm still doing it tough at the moment with all the shit that went down last year regarding the cancelled 6 week Europe tour with Glenn. So more than just letting you guys know that the preorders are open for the new album, I wanted to ask you all a few questions and tell you bit about what’s going on here. Firstly I gotta thank all you guys once again for being such a great support to me, my music and ultimately my family. I started recording and performing as the Lachy Doley Group in 2010 and apart from Jimmy Barnes I haven’t really done any work as a session player with anyone else since. Playing with Jimmy Barnes has pretty much gotten me through these years. The Lachy Doley Group has only cost me money. like lots of money! And that’s not even mentioning the time I spend working on it. I mean I’ve been working my fucking ass off, every spare second I’ve had for the last 6 years to get it to where it’s at and it’s talking it’s toll on my family, myself and my mental health. I mean I: Write the music (time) Perform the music (time) Record the music (time and heaps of money) Mix the music (time) Master the music (time) Then I market the album (stupid amounts of time and money) I also pay a publicist to market the album (I can't say exactly the amount, but it’s thousands) I send the albums off to radio, blogs and magazines around the world (stupid amounts of time and money, especially overseas radio stations, everyone wants a physical copy and postage is nuts) This album makes 4 Studios albums and 2 Live albums plus a DVD since 2010 (WTF?) I book all the shows , except overseas (so much time) I promote the shows (stupid amounts of time and money) I video a lot of the shows (so much money and setup) I edit the videos of the shows (so much time) I promote them on Facebook (So much time and money) I built and update my website (Lots of time, some money for hosting) I design all the artwork and posters (time) I tour manager everything. Which I’m absolutely hopeless at. (time) Public Liability Insurance (money) My Europe tour of 2015 ended up costing me $6000 dollars. Having said that. My Europe 2016 tour broke even. So that was good :-) I ENGAGE WITH ALMOST EVERYONE WHO CONTACTS ME on fb, email, twitter and alike. But now I’ve got over 28,000 Facebook likes, this adds up to ten’s of hours a week just replying to people but unfortunately doesn’t do anything for my hopeless financial situation. I give out so much advice to musicians via comments and private messages it’s bordering on crazy. But I have to say I really do love this part of everything. It’s just so many hours. On top of this I haul around a stupidly OVERSIZED HAMMOND ORGAN and WHAMMY CLAV all the around the world and then put in every single bit of energy and conviction into every performance, I feel like I’m gonna faint sometimes. Not to mention the cost of maintenance and petrol on my van when it’s running over 15,0000 kms a year SO…. when you find yourself home after driving 12 hours straight from an incredible week away playing 5 awesome shows to standing ovations at Woodford Folk Festival but you simply can’t pay your mortgage and feed the family that week. It’s time to really think hard about WHETHER THIS IS ALL WORTH IT. Sadly, There’s no work with Jim at the moment as he’s doing his book tour and the small amount he has coming up is directly when I’ve booked my new Album tour. BAD TIMING Don’t get me wrong I know I’ve achieved so much and I know I’m a great product. Infant everyday someone comments to me about how well I’m doing or how I’m just killing it at the moment. This makes me feel good for second but because I know that it’s totally not the case it really brings me down further. I’m still flat broke, actually broker than ever. I’m seriously this close to just giving up and finding a real job. But I’ve got to see this new album and it’s tour through.  So i wanted to ask a few things: If you do enjoy my music, watch my videos, learn from my videos or get something good from what I do, would you consider helping me to keep them coming by becoming a member of my VIP membership group. It’s a bit like CROWDFUNDING by a more spread out and sustainable version. All the info is here at www.lachydoley.com/vip please watch the video and see if it’s something you’d like to be apart of :-) Otherwise if you’re planning to buy a copy or preorder of the new album at some point. Would you mind doing it now as I’ll get the funds almost immediately AND it’ll help my chances of charting on the week it’s released. You can do that here www.lachydoley.com/bandcamp If you’re in Australia, Please come to one or more of my shows and book early so the venues don’t freak about whether anyones coming. All the shows are listed here www.lachydoley.com/shows SHARE AND TAG THE HELL out of my videos and posts :-) Sorry for the depressing tone of this email but it’s just where I am right now. Thanks so much everyone and happy new year. Lachy   Resources mentioned in episode 485 of The Small Business Big Marketing Show: Lachy Doley’s official website Lachy Doley’s Hammond Organ training Lachy Doley’s music Lachy Doley’s merchandise Last week’s interview with business book publisher Lyda Maclallen of Talk Plus Tell Interviews I’ve done with other celebrities: Michelle Bridges interview David Reyne interview Richard Stubbs interview   This week’s Monster Prize Draw winner There was no winner this week … send your entry to Timbo - tim(at)timreid(dot)com(dot)au    Please support the following businesses who make this show possible:   American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   Yellow Check out their online marketing packages tailored for businesses just like yours.   Switchnode Australia’s Internet isn’t great. That’s why Switchnode exist. The solution is here and it’s wireless.   If something in this episode of Australia’s favourite marketing podcast peaked your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing.   [ For more interviews with successful business owners visit Small Business Big Marketing ]Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.