The Small Business Big Marketing Podcast with Tim Reid

Digital nomads Nat Thomas and Niv Nobacht run serious businesses from wherever they are in the world. As long as they have their computer and a solid Internet connection then life is good. In this candid conversation, you’ll discover the pros and cons of running a location independent business and how it may be able to be applied to the way you run your business. It’s time for a little lateral thinking! In this episode of your favourite marketing podcast you’ll also discover: - Why Nat chose to leave a well-paid job at 20th Century Fox- Why Niv left a secure corporate job in Germany- What you need to survive running a business from anywhere- The highs and lows of running a location independent business- And plenty more … “My digital nomad lifestyle came about when an opportunity presented itself to move to Santiago (crazy, I know!) and I knew in my heart it was “now or never” to step out of my comfort zone and embark on some soul-searching adventure.” - Nat Thomas, The Now With Nat   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Nat and Niv: 1. Be flexible in the way you approach your work.2. Be innovative (Phil McKinney’s Killer Innovations).3. Find time for some spirituality.   Resources mentioned: Natalie Thomas’s official website Niv Nobacht’s official website The interview with digital nomad Mark Phillips The interview with Killer Innovations founder Phil McKinney Steve Sims official website 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 bit.ly/2nRCl6X ]Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Janet DeNeefe met a Balinese man in 1984, and with very little thought, moved to the charming Balinese hillside town of Ubud and threw herself into a new life. She had no plan (she never does as you're about to find out!) … she just knew she was in love. Back then, ducks and cows wandered down the main road and telephones were a luxury. That was 35 years ago. Since then, she’s given birth to four children and numerous businesses … all of which have blossomed. This is a story of a highly creative business woman who doesn’t care for planning, isn’t scared to have an idea and quickly get it to market … and whose Midas touch seems to turn everything to gold. Janet also shares: How she launched her first business in Bali What role her creativity plays in launching and running each business Why she started the Ubud Reader’s & Writer’s Festival and the Ubud Food Festival What role marketing plays in each of her businesses How she manages the family dynamics of working with her husband and now sons And plenty more …   “One day my staff called me and said there were two women here that want to meet you. So I met with them and they turned out to be interior designers who wanted me to provide the soft-furnishings for Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island!” - Janet DeNeefe, Entrepreneur   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Janet DeNeefe: Sometimes the idea of moving location to start a business or re-energise an existing business isn’t a bad idea. That doesn’t necessarily mean moving overseas! … it could just be moving down the road in to a new space. I love how Janet’s operating in a variety of different categories - from food, to tourism to homewares. I know there’s a school of thought that says do one thing well; however, if you have another business idea that you’d love to launch, then maybe take some inspiration from how Janet goes about things. I love any business that gives back to the local community. Janet starting the Ubud Readers & Writers Festival following the Bali bombings is a great example of a business with a strong social conscience.   Resources mentioned: Casa Luna - Janet DeNeefe’s cafe Indus - Janet DeNeefe’s restaurant Janet DeNeefe’s personal website & blog Honeymoon Guesthouse - Janet DeNeefe’s Hotel Emporium - Janet DeNeefe’s homeware store   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.

2016 went down as a banner year for gun real estate agent Bernard “Bernie” Uechtritz. First, there was the historic and record-breaking sale of the Waggoner Ranch for $994M plus he won a slew of industry awards. Immediately when I read about this property for sale I needed to speak with the agent responsible for the sale. How did he get the listing and how is he going to market a property worth close to one billion Australian dollars!? Join me as I get those questions and many more answered by Texas real estate agent Bernard Uechtritz. Not only is he selling the Waggoner Ranch, but is also responsible for selling some quite stigmatised homes in LA including ones in which murders have taken place! This is a masterclass in how to market expensive real estate. Enjoy!   Bernie also shares: How he got the listing What it takes to go above and beyond when servicing a client The importance of networking Why it’s the simple things in marketing and sales that make the biggest difference And plenty more …   “I’m really just a mongrel-bred kid from a colorful family, who had a wild, adventuresome youth in the jungles and kunai grass plains of Papua New Guinea (PNG). I was never a good scholar or a rule follower because I’ve never been good at sitting still or staying in the lines.” - Bernard Uechtritz, Icon Property   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Bernard Uechtritz: Wear down the Dobermans in order to get to the decision makers. Show more passion than your competitors in order to get the deal. Be a hand-shake kind of guy, in a world that spends too much time online.   Resources mentioned: Article on the sale of the Waggoner Ranch Connect with Bernie on LinkedIN The wiki on Stan Kroenke who bought the Waggoner Ranch   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 Partner with Australia's #1 online business directory for all your digital marketing needs.   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.

Sam Priestley makes a living by dressing up as a fireman then taking his clothes off in front of women. Yes, he’s a stripper! Hannah Priestley, Sam’s wife, runs the business. And it’s a very successful business at that. So much so that Sam works just one day per week, and they both earn far more than they ever did in their previous full time jobs. Oh … and Sam’s character name? Fireman Sam, of course!!   Sam & Hannah also share: Where’s the idea for men On Fire come from? How Hannah feels about her husband being a male stripper How they managed to replace their full-time employment income in just 6-months How they make prospects feel comfortable about enquiring for their services How Google Adwords sky-rocketed their business And plenty more …   “We found our competition to not be very helpful. Just the simple things like getting back to emails or phone calls a week later. That’s just too late for someone trying to book such an important event. So Sam suggested we start as a small side business and do it a whole lot better. ” - Hannah Priestley, Men On Fire   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Men On Fire’s Sam & Hannah Priestley: I love the fact that Sam and Hannah communicate constantly and clearly to one another. I love how they've taken a good look at their competitors, identified what’s being done poorly and gone about addressing it in their own business. And I love clarity they have around who does what in the business.     Resources mentioned: Men On Fire’s official website Men On Fire’s official Facebook page   But the marketing gold doesn’t stop there, in this episode: This week’s winner of the Monster Prize Draw winner is: Anthony Spiteri of Pixel 3   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 Partner with Australia's #1 online business directory for all your digital marketing needs.   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.

Busy mum-of-three Rini Lombard never dreamed about launching her own business, it was her ballet-loving daughter that inspired her to take the leap. Despite the toy manufacturing industry being highly competitive and saturated, Rini launched her line Ballerina & Me, confident that her dolls would bring joy to the whole family. 7000 happy customers later, Rini lives to tell us her success story. Want to know how a business is born out of an experiment with a broomstick? What’s it really like to be your own boss and live your passion? And find out the biggest mistake this small business owner has ever made... Yikes! Hit the PLAY button above to listen now, or subscribe free to hear the full interview.  Rini also shares: How she balances work and being a mum of three The importance of having someone believe in you How getting your name out there at the local markets is a great first step to success Why it’s critical to copyright your brilliant business idea That being a kind human will take you far in business How engaging a PR expert can propel you to the next level When it’s time to delegate some of the workload e.g. social media And plenty more … Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Ballerina & Me’s Rini Lombard: Rini is crystal clear on the “why” she does what she does - and let me tell you, not a whole lot business owners can articulate this as well as today’s guest. Rini’s enthusiasm is evident in the way she lights up when talking about her business. It was a real joy to chat with her today. Have a meaty and genuine story to tell. Rini has worked with a PR expert to gain some pretty influential press, including a mention on Channel 10’s morning talk show Studio 10 and in The Age newspaper. Again, it’s Rini’s personal story and passion for the “why” she has created this business, plus her truly unique life-size dancing dolls that make her stand out from the crowd. I love that Rini’s business goals are so big that they scare (and excite) her. She has grand plans to grow her business and expand her offering, but will only do so if the new ideas align with her mission to spread joy. In an overpopulated market, it’s Rini’s authenticity that’ll allow her to stand the test of time. Resources mentioned: Ballerina & Me official website Ballerina & Me on Facebook   But the marketing gold doesn’t stop there, in this episode: I give you a real life example of a local business who score 10 out of 10 for grabbing my attention, but shoot themselves in the foot at the pointy end of the deal, aka the moment I was about to throw down the cold, hard c-a-s-h! Womp womp. Don’t let this be you!   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 Partner with Australia's #1 online business directory for all your digital marketing needs. 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.

David Silvestri considers himself the most passionate restaurant owner in Brisbane. And for good reason … Arrivederci Pizzeria is ranked #1 on Ubereats, his 150-seat dining room is full every night of the week and his 25 staff wouldn’t work anywhere else.   There’s loads more tips and insights just like this that will help you build that beautiful business of yours into the empire it deserves to be. Hit the PLAY button above to listen now, or subscribe free to hear the full interview.    David also shares: The importance of passion in business How important it is to follow and react to trends How a Vegan menu changes everything The importance of social media in business growth Why he works in every part of the business The critical role his late Father played in forming who he is as a business owners And plenty more …   “You gotta love business. Treat it as a game. Have some fun. Be competitive. I’m soooo competitive!” - David Silvestri, Arrivederci Pizzeria   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Arrivederci Pizzeria’s David Silvestri: I love the fact that David looks out for trends and then acts on the ones he thinks will have a significant impact on his business. Eg. The Vegan Menu is a great example of this. A simple way to keep your finger on the pulse is to subscribe to Google Trends. A more expensive way is to take an overseas trip once a year and see what’s happening in your industry on the other side of the world. I love the fact that David has spend significant time in all parts of his business. Like he said, this then enables him to show great empathy and understanding when chatting with his staff. And I love how David is 100% focussed on offering a personalised experience for each and every one of his guests. Maybe that’s why 90% of his business is repeat business?!   Resources mentioned: Arrivederci Pizzeria official website Arrivederci Pizzeria on Facebook Interviews with other passionate foodies and restauranteurs Daniel Wilson from Huxtaburger Jamie Wood from Stone & Wood Declan Lee from Gelato Messina   But the marketing gold doesn’t stop there, in this episode: This week’s winner of the Monster Prize Draw winner is: Burleigh Driver Training   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 Partner with Australia's #1 online business directory for all your digital marketing needs.   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.

Tie shop owner (and serial entrepreneur) Jeremy Chen was staring business disaster in the face when the global financial crisis lead to a huge decline in tie wearing. But instead of closing shop, he and his business partner made an ever so slight pivot thanks to one customer that walked in at the right time with a request they were destined to fulfill. “We’re on track for over $6M this year, with 10 people in Melbourne, over 5,000 SKUs and an average growth rate of 50% per annum for the last 7 years. Everything's heading in the right direction.” - Jeremy Chen, BePromotive   There’s loads more tips and insights just like this that will help you build that beautiful business of yours into the empire it deserves to be. Hit the PLAY button above to listen now, or subscribe free to hear the full interview.   Jeremy also shares: What he loves about small business Why he’s started so many businesses Why he decided to pivot and not shut down the tie shop What role marketing has played in each of his businesses And plenty more …   “Advertising is the price you pay for being boring!” - Jeremy Chen, BePromotive   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with BePromotive’s Jeremy Chen: I loved Jeremy’s attitude to pivoting or grinding it out. Jeremy’s idea of approaching your captive market when things are tight is solid. These are people who already know you and want to help you out. Heading to the Canton Fair was a massive decision given he didn’t really know what he was going there for … yet it certainly paid off.   Resources mentioned: Promotional products business BePromotive’s official website Jeremy Chen on LinkedIN Interview with Clive McCorkell from Arid Zone   But the marketing gold doesn’t stop there, in this episode:   The overall winner for 2018’s Monster Prize Draw winner is: Lindsey Marsh of Sew To Grow   Please support American Express & DesignCrowd who make this show possible: American Express Business Explorer Credit Card  Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   DesignCrowd Get $100 off your design brief here   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.

Full-time student Phillip Kuoch fell into the bakery business by accident when his father fell ill shortly after buying the business. Luckily, with 24-hours in everyday, Phillip embraced the challenge and now he’s just launched a brand extension in a donut franchise … and who doesn’t love a donut?!   Here’s the email Phillip sent me requesting to be interviewed. It was a “Yes” from me straight away (Mainly because he was a long time listener ;0):   Hey Timbo! I've been a long time listener and I've applied a lot of the advice and stories from your show to my own business over the last three years and I feel like I should give back what I've learned to the SBBM community. Three years ago, I took over a bakery business and lost a lot of business due to my naiveness in taking on the challenge to operate the business without any baking experience. I met with a lot of hardships with the previous owners trying to sabotage me and with many new businesses opening nearby taking away our business. Fast forward three years now, our business is currently booming and we just opened a second store, with a third pop up store opening tomorrow at QV (come and visit!). We have been ranked as one of the best doughnut shops by several food websites, including the Herald Sun and we also made international news last year by introducing the world's first croissant-doughnut covered in real 24 karat gold. Not meaning to (humble) brag, but I started this business when I was 21 and ran the business whilst I was completing my undergraduate degree in marketing and journalism. I'd love to share my story with you and if you were interested to know more, I'd love to talk!   So, in episode 441 of your favourite marketing podcast, Phillip reveals: Why he chose to take on the bakery as well as study at uni full time How he manages his way through adversity What role innovation plays in growing the business How he generates free (global) publicity Why he’s decided to franchise the business How he deals with imposter syndrome And plenty more ...   Resources mentioned: Goldelucks Bakery offical website Michelle Bridges’ interview The chicken man (Arthur Greeno) interview Phillip mentioned Carolyn Creswell from Carman's Muesli interview     Please support American Express who make this show possible: American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   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 MarketingSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Wells is the reason I do this show. Not him personally … but the type of person and business owner that he is, having steadily taken a small fishing tackle store from $660,000 in year one to its current $5M turnover after 9-years. Join me as he shares exactly how he’s done it. “The customer is always right until we have the chance to show them otherwise.” - Peter Wells, Davo’s It’s people like Peter Wells that inspire me to continue doing this show after almost 10 years. A small business owner, with an interesting story, who’s never been in the limelight and who’s effectively using some form of marketing to grow their business. Peter used to work on submarines … now he owns Davo’s Fishing & Tackle - a simple bricks and mortar business he bought 9-years ago - that now has three stores on Australia’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. He’s big on customer service, has a hunger for figuring out how retail works, is a lifelong student of personal development and has some great learnings (and stories) from his past life as a submariner.  But this is not one of those chats where everything falls into place … as Pete (and his son) come to grips with how to transition in to the eCommerce space.   In episode 440 of your favourite marketing podcast, Peter reveals: Why he sold a logistics business to buy a little fishing and tackle shop How he stays ahead of retail trends Why it took him so long to start an eCommerce store What he learnt from being a submariner The importance of working closely with suppliers The best marketing he does to attract and retail customers And plenty more ...   Resources mentioned: Davo’s Fishing & Tackle Interview with Paul Nieuwenhuys from Hooked Online & Sinker Interview with Brendan Torazzi   Here’s Yellow’s Do More Business Video Series (Episode 1) that I hosted   Please support American Express who make this show possible: American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   DesignCrowd Get $100 off your next designbrief.   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 MarketingSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clearly, SEO is a hot topic amongst small business owners.   Reviews of last week’s episode on SEO included: “Your best yet, Timbo!” And “The most practical marketing podcast I’ve ever listened to!” Well, strap in, because Dana DiTomaso (one of the world's leading SEO experts) continues to answer your most pressing SEO questions to set you up for a profitable year ahead.   Dana is President & Partner at Kick Point, where she applies marketing into strategies to grow clients' businesses, in particular, to ensure that digital and traditional play well together. With her deep experience in digital, Dana can separate real solutions from wastes of time (and budget).   “SEO Is great for getting people to your site … but if your site is boring then no one is going to want to buy your stuff. Spend time getting your website right before putting energy and resources into your SEO.” - Dana DiTomaso, KickPoint   Now, if you haven’t listened to last week’s episode 438 on SEO, then I suggest you do that first, as Dana overviews the fundamentals of SEO that every website must get right. PLUS she also answers around 15 SEO questions that were sent in to me by you.   In part 2, the questions and answer keep coming as we cover: How the little guys can compete against the big brands when it comes to SEO Which SEO play will give you the biggest impact upfront Voice search and SEO The importance of content How to get found locally And plenty more   So, thanks again for your questions which have formed the basis of this and last week’s episodes. Your SEO questions that Dana DiTomaso answers in Part 1 of this two-part SEO series are:   Laurel Guymer of LaPerouse Guesthouse: How do we, a small accommodation business, compete with airbnb, booking.com, wotif.com etc ?   Adam Neilands of Kelapa Organics: With the goal posts constantly changing with Google’s algorithm, where do we start? Out of all the tasks we can complete for SEO which one is the most important/impactful for a stronger ranking on Google?   Cameron Harris of Tank On Cleaning: Should the SEO on each page of my website be the same, or should it be different?   Robert Wheeler of the Rapid Recovery Room: I'm paranoid about voice search, like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa. Apparently, everyone is voice searching on their phones these days and I'm not sure about the best way to get and keep myself in that game.   Scott Pendlebury of the Renovator Store: I often wonder why most eCommerce companies write their content and then hire an “SEO specialist” to rewrite it.  Given SEO is really about having relevant, amazing and engaging content for the user my question is why isn’t it better to make SEO the core strategy of an eCommerce company’s content team?   Shane Scrutton of Eaglemont Tennis Club: How effective is Google My Business for SEO - ie. does it increase your organic ranking?   Sandy Taylor of Sandy Taylor Digital Marketing: As an SEO Copywriter who works with small businesses who are new to marketing, my #1 question would be whether Google will develop Google My Business into a workable substitute for a website for sole traders and optimistic hobbyists who aren’t ready for a full website yet?   Robert Cagalj of Lease Communications: If I pay for Google Adwords would that increase my "Google juice" after my ad has expired?   Enamul Hasan:How much of an impact does content marketing play when doing local SEO for small businesses? Is it really worthwhile pitching content marketing to local businesses like tradies, small retail shops or service professionals in a local area to help them rank well?   Jim Knott: Can a business perform well from an SEO perspective purely from organic strategies?   Joern Stienz: I run a small Design Training agency and my biggest problem is to find the time and energy to create content (eg. write blog articles). Hence, I ordered a few 1,000-word articles from a text broker portal, but they have not improved my website’s visibility. Any ideas on how to make this work?   Steve Witt of Not Just Travel: If I have 400 local agents all across the UK ... how does each agent get found at a local level?   Charlie Morton: How do I choose keywords? And what constitutes a long-tail keyword?   Leanne Parish: What's the best way to get a website to rank for different geotags? For example, you might have a business based in Tamworth, but they might want to rank in Armidale and Coffs Harbour. How do you get them to rank for areas surrounding Tamworth without adding separate pages? We often get clients who want only 5-page websites, so getting them to rank for a far-reaching service area is proving difficult. Help!   Matt from Stargazing UK: Regarding the layout of a website nowadays … Should you have all of your products on the main page so the URL is as short as possible; or should you categorise them and have them two or three pages down the tree?   Adam Lawrence from Imperium Consulting: If you were to recommend a small business owner to invest time into the learning of, and money into the purchase of, one all-encompassing SEO management solution, which would it be, and why?   Me: What would your SEO strategy be to maximise the number of SMEs who hear this episode?   Here’s what caught my attention from my chat with Dana DiTomaso: Get your SEO fundamentals right … Title tags, load time, mobile-friendly, update your website at least monthly. Complete your Google My Business account … and be sure to post on a regular basis. Create helpful content that solves the problems of your precious customers.   Click Here to Download Full Transcription   Resources mentioned: KickPoint’s official website Sign up for KickPoint’s newsletter Hemingway Copy Editor Moz SEM Rush Google My Business   Please support American Express who make this show possible: American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   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 MarketingSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/marketingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.