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Some things about running a business are very fun, some are very stressful, and some are downright scary! That’s why it helps to have a good team of professionals to make sure you’re legally protected. Contracts, payment terms, HR, oh my! Things can get really complicated really fast as your business grows, and you may not even be aware of the risks that may lie ahead. We want to help you be prepared and know what experts you want on your side to set your company up for success. 

If you’ve started your own business, you may have experienced some interesting reactions from the people around you. This episode is one big segment of “Rants with Rance” as we talk about some of the funny (and some of the frustrating) things we’ve encountered as we’ve taken Avalanche Creative from side hustle to full-blown business. We love all the support we’ve received along the way from friends and family...but we’re still pretty sure our parents couldn’t explain what we do to a stranger. And contrary to the popular belief of our grandmas, what we do is a little more specific than “computer stuff.”

As entrepreneurs, we always want to move at lightning speed, but is there a case for intentionally slowing down? The more rowers you get in your boat, the slower it takes to make a turn without sending anyone overboard. In this episode, we chat about why we’re intentionally slowing down to set our company up for long-term growth.  Other episodes referenced: Episode 29

What is the secret to success? Well, there isn’t one, but grasping the concept of delayed gratification doesn’t hurt! Learning to sacrifice short-term pleasures for long-term gains is possibly the single greatest contributing factor to getting out of the paycheck-to-paycheck grind and building a future you can get excited about. We talk about how delayed gratification helped us pay off our student loans, save up an emergency fund, buy our house, and grow our business - and how it has built the habits we need to keep the goal train rolling.  Start investing in your future with Acorns!

If you haven’t heard of the Enneagram, you must be living under a rock. In this episode, we’re sharing about how the Enneagram has helped us in our personal lives, careers, and marriage. If you’ve been wondering what this thing is all about and if it’s worth it to learn more, take a listen! Recommended resources: Instagram: @enneagramandcoffee, @enneagramashton Website: The Enneagram Institute Book: The Road Back to You 

In this episode, Lance gets to play fanboy to Hook Agency founder and CEO, Tim Brown. Hook Agency is a fellow quickly-growing SEO agency based out of Minneapolis, MN, and we’re talking shop about starting and growing an agency, SEO, content marketing, running a business with your spouse, and so much more!  Hook Agency Website: https://hookagency.com/  Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-brown-%F0%9F%8E%A3-3160bb35/ 

In this episode, we have the privilege of hanging out with Aaron Mason, Director of Expansion for Next Door Photos. If you’re interested in learning about a business with one of the most unique, impactful, and well-positioned business models out there, tune in! Next Door Photos has managed to find a way to empower local owner-operators around the country to support the quickly-evolving media needs of the real estate industry all while developing a global supply chain that gives thousands of people an opportunity for meaningful employment.  If you’re a real estate agent, local photographer, or someone looking to start your own thing, this episode is especially for you! Next Door Photos: https://nextdoorphotos.com/ Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronrmason/  Referenced episodes: https://avalanche.libsyn.com/rocketfuel-running-a-business-with-your-spouse-episode-20

At the end of April, we shared what it was like to experience the COVID-19 pandemic as small business owners. It is one of our most popular episodes, so we thought we’d record a follow-up episode now that we’re 6 months into the pandemic. If you’re wondering what it’s really like to lead a small company and team through an unpredictable time, have a listen. If you’re a fellow small business owner looking for some company for your misery...well, we try to bring the positive vibes, but this episode might help you not feel so alone. Avalanche Marketing Group: https://avalanchegr.com/avalanche-marketing-group  Sign up for email: https://avalanchegr.com/avalanche-email  Referenced episodes: https://avalanche.libsyn.com/real-small-business-owners-of-covid-19-episode-12 

So you want to know about keywords - what they are, how to find them, how to use them...we have your answers! Today's new podcast episode is all about keywords and how to use them for SEO! Try SEM Rush with a 14-day trial - https://www.semrush.com/partner/avalanchegr Email contact@avalanchegr.com for more information about keyword research.

If you find yourself at a crossroads in your career (like the millions of other people laid off from their jobs due to COVID-19), you might be wondering what's next for you. Should you pursue a graduate degree? What else can you do to progress in your career? Is formal education the answer?  A current MBA student and a self-taught entrepreneur/marketer hash it out as we discuss the considerations that you should think through before making the decision.  If you're looking for a way to level up your skills without getting a degree, check out The Avalanche Course: https://avalanchegr.com/avalanche-course

Tune in to this awesome conversation with our friend and colleague, Adam Clarke of 1 Bold Step. Adam provides some great insight into marketing operations (what it is and why it's important), the evolution and future of marketing, tips for marketers and fellow business owners, and advice for how to network in a pandemic.  This episode is full of both practical tips and high-level perspective. You won't want to skip this one!

Making the transition from solopreneur to business-owner is a huge step, and it’s not for everyone. We are in the midst of this awkward but exciting period of growth, and we’re definitely feeling some growing pains, so we wanted to share some of those things and give you guys a little heads up on what you might want to consider and think about before heading in this direction. 

In this episode, we're talking about taking your fate into your own hands and making your dreams a reality. You want it, you got it!  We're talking about understanding the lens you see the world through, manifesting your destiny, and going with your gut. It's amazing how powerful your mind can be once you start to understand how to harness it. 

In this episode, we give you a little history lesson on the evolution of marketing. Today, marketing is all about customer-centricity and the constant flow of communication. We talk about common misconceptions and mistakes in how many companies approach marketing and how you can be more effective in your approach. 

Ever wonder what it's like to run a business with your spouse? We're spilling the tea on how it works for us!  We are a classic Visionary/Integrator duo, and understanding the concept of Rocketfuel has been integral in figuring out our roles within the company.  As for running a business with your spouse? It's a lot like marriage! As a bonus in this episode, you will get serenaded on several occasions. 

Have you ever felt like your business needed to be doing content marketing but had no idea where to start? In this episode, we're sharing the Avalanche Creative approach to developing a content strategy for producing effective content that will drive traffic to your website. Pie analogies are involved.

After having to indefinitely postpone a big vacation and a weekend getaway during the COVID-19 lockdown, we finally reached our breaking point and took a Wednesday off to turn off our notifications and get out of the house. We felt like brand new people! In this episode, we reflect on the importance of taking time off and the value of physically stepping away from the day to day and discuss how it benefits not only your personal life but also your business!

In this interview with Local First of West Michigan's Kathleen Roark, we talk about our love for local businesses and how they impact our great community. Local First is the third-largest organization of its kind in the country, and Kathleen shares some great statistics about the impact that spending your dollars in locally owned businesses can have on your community.  She also shares about the upcoming Independents Week happening June 27 - July 4 and how you can get involved! #IndependentsWeek Local First website: https://www.localfirst.com/ Local First on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalFirstWestMichigan/

In this episode, we interview one of the Avalanche Creative team members about his story, how he ended up working in SEO, and some of the unique industries he's worked in. From selling nutraceuticals on Twitter to figuring out how to sell products in the highly restricted cannabis industry.  Learn about Brady and pick up some great SEO tips along the way!

We spent much of our early twenties getting our finances in order - sticking to a budget, paying off our debt, growing an emergency fund, and all that work set us up to be able to become full-time entrepreneurs with confidence. We have built the behavioral habits to manage our money well and the tangible assets to protect us during economic downturns (like maybe, I don't know...a pandemic!) This is not every entrepreneur's story, but it's our story, and we want to tell it to you! Don't forget to leave a review for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card! Start building your financial cushion through Acorns: https://www.acorns.com/invite/?code=AAWV7E