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Steve O'Neill, (self-employed trainer, voiceover artist and podcaster) shares his thoughts and learnings on having been self-employed for nearly a year. The key lessons include: Have a plan Don't be afraid of the steep learning curve You need to be ultra-disciplined Work on being multi-skilled (quickly) And more You can find Steve here: Website: www.sondevelopment.com Podcast: www.sharppodcast.com   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

In this episode strengths coach Daria Williamson (www.dariawilliamson.com) discusses how working out your strengths (the things you enjoy and are good at) can help you in your working life. You see, we all have things we like doing and don't like doing.  The things we don't like can demotivate us and we're prone to putting them off. Here, Daria gives you some thoughts on how you can work with areas where you're not strong and make more of what you enjoy (without ignoring the less exciting stuff). We look at procrastination and how to reduce it, how to leverage help when needed, and ideas for getting the most out of your 'zone of genius'.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

Emily Cordwell, business owner and productivity podcaster (https://open.spotify.com/show/managing-the-juggle), shares her tips for being successfully self-employed. She also shares some pointers on how to organise yourself when you're a busy mum trying to run a business from home. Emily's key points include: Get some help - you can't do everything (neither should you try) Don't fret about having someone else look after your kids while you work Make sure you know what 'one thing' you'd like to accomplish each day Do your most important stuff when you're at your most awake Look after cashflow and get help if you struggle with this   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

When introducing new products or services to your marketing there's no need to reinvent your marketing wheel.  Chances are good that what you've done in the past will work with the new thing. You see, those who want to build their business often overlook the stuff that's worked in the past when they do something new. They think that "if it's a new thing then we need new marketing". And this simply isn't usually the case. If you're selling to the same audience (market) then the same tried-and-tested approaches will most likely work. So try the marketing techniques you've used thus far and only change them if they don't seem to work with the new product or service.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

With Covid variants running rampant it's a wise move to try and plan short-term so you can quickly adapt to the changing business environment.  Quarterly is a good time-frame to do this and here's why. You see, nobody can predict what's happening at the moment and govt's seem to be very quick to just lock down the economy and this could have a very negative impact on your business. So, make sure you've done some thinking about what will happen to your business if this happens. This episode of the podcast will give you some ideas and things to think about.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

If you're running a small business you should remember that social media is there as a client-engagement and customer-attraction tool.  And that means treating it more like an actual marketing channel. You see, far too  many smaller businesses (and the self-employed) seem to think that just 'putting stuff on social media' is the way to attract customers. Yes it will have some affect but you need to make sure you're putting out some actual marketing messages. Are you encouraging people to visit your website to take a look at what you're offering? Are you steering people towards enquiring about your products/services? Are you promoting offers and/or featured products? Whatever you do, just remember that social media for business is a marketing exercise.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

In our social media business world it's important to make sure you're connecting with the right people to maximise the value of your network. This means taking the time to evaluate connections. You see, you need to understand if a connection will be of use to you, you to them, or if they will provide something to your network that will be useful. If you can't see any of this happening then you should decline the request and move on. Remember: it's not about the quantity in your network, it's about quality of your network.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

Knowing your key financial numbers is vital for your business if you intend to grow it.  Without up-to-date, accurate financial information you won't be able to make properly informed decisions. In this interview, Murray Phillips (https://www.insightca.nz) shares his insights into the key financial figures that you should have available when you need them. Murray addresses 4 important questions: How important is it to know your numbers in business (turnover, gross & net profit, customer LTV etc)? What are the most common mistakes that small business owners make with their numbers? How can they avoid those mistakes? What key financial knowledge does someone need when trying to grow a small business?   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

One of the big deals in marketing is to fully understand what you're selling.  If you don't understand how your product or service helps your customers then your marketing won't be as effective as it should be. You see, we all buy things for a reason (or reasons).  And when you get this you can focus on that reason in your sales and marketing efforts. For example: Hairdressers are in the business of helping people look good and, as a result, feel good. Accountants bring the reassurance that the numbers are right so that the tax authorities don't come knocking. An electrician is there to fix and maintain electrical things so that it's all safe, thus providing a secure feeling. Whatever it is you sell, work on the results (the why) that your customers get out of buying from you. And then market your ability to help customers get said results.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

We all know that "talk is cheap" and "actions speak louder than words".⠀But are you actually working towards what you say you want?⠀ A lot of people say they want success (whatever that means) but don't seem to be putting in the effort to achieve it.⠀ Their words and their actions don't tally. And, as a result, they're very unlikely to reach their stated goals.⠀ They'll end up disillusioned and, even worse, other people won't take them so seriously.⠀ So, just make sure that your actions are taking you towards what you say you want.⠀ This episode will give you some pointers.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

You may have heard the phrase "Just Say No!".  In this short podcast episode I'll share a true story of how this approach to potential opportunities can backfire. You see, as business owners we see opportunities everywhere and this can be a blessing and a curse. But, in this case I was given an opportunity to earn some easy advertising money. But, because it didn't immediately make sense, I turned it down. Turns out it was a bad mistake. If I'd asked more questions and taken the time to think about it a bit more then the outcome would have been different. So, never just flatly turn something down without doing a spot of research first. You never know if it could end up being a great opportunity.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

It's important that your branding is consistent across all your channels these days. This is because people do a lot more research before buying and if there is anything that looks out of sorts then they're less likely to see your brand as trustworthy. But it's not just about logo and company name, you also need to make sure the colours and the wording are consistent too. The key with marketing is to build trust and if potential buyers see the same branding across all your channels then this familiarity will reassure them that you are who you say you are. Any irregularity in your branding will encourage the potential buyer to think that there's something wrong here and they're less likely to buy.   N.B. This channel will soon be re-branded to Auckland Business Builders.  You'll get the same great content but it'll just be called something else.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

We're all encouraged to be on social media.  After all, that's where our customers are right?  However, only a minority of people have a plan for their social media marketing and are, therefor, not doing social media properly. You see, it's vital to make sure you're encouraging your followers and connections to get involved that little bit more. You need to nudge them to take some interest in your services or products. In essence. your social media activity should be there to nurture that audience towards becoming paying customers.  And if you're not doing this then you're only doing it for the fun of it. So, try and ensure that your social media is serving your business in some way.   N.B. This channel will soon be re-branded to Auckland Business Builders.  You'll get the same great content but it'll just be called something else.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

There are few secrets in marketing but there is one marketing ingredient that over 90% of small businesses don't seem to have caught onto. And that ingredient is this: Tell me "what's in it for me?" if I buy from you. You see, most marketing just tells people what they do.  As a result it's pretty-much like all the other marketing. But when you start to highlight the benefits of buying from you the results will improve because you're showing me a reason to buy. Listen this episode to find out how it's done.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

Many people suffer from a lack of energy in the middle of the afternoon so here's a quick tip to help boost your energy levels after lunch. The key to this is to get moving. 5 minutes after eating your lunch you should go for a short (10 minute) walk to get your circulation moving and stimulate all the happy hormones normally associated with exercise. You see, what happens after lunch is that your body reacts to the food in your stomach by sending blood to the digestive system and this lowers the blood (and therefore oxygen) to the brain. So, anything you can do get the blood circulating more effectively again will oxygenate the brain and give you an energy boost. Give it a whirl. It only works.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

A content sharing strategy is a must-have if you want to win in the search engines. This episode will help you to get started. You see, content sharing enables your target audience to access you content a lot faster than just leaving it to the search engines. When you create a content item (e.g. a blog post) you need to make sure you share it out far and wide. Share it on: emails social media highlight it on your website social sharing plugins And then share it out periodically again. This combined content sharing approach will drive traffic to your site and this will help your website in the search engines. Resources mentioned Monarch content sharing plugin : https://www.elegantthemes.com/plugins/monarch/ Revive Old Posts plugin : https://wordpress.org/plugins/tweet-old-post/ Buffer social media management : https://buffer.com/   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

It's easy to wonder about often you should send marketing emails out and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. This episode of the podcast should help you to work this out a little better. This a question we're asked a lot and it really depends on 3 things: your type of business, your intended audience and how much time you can dedicate to sending out emails. If you're in Business to Consumer (B2C) then you'll likely get away with a couple of times a week (maybe even daily). If you sell to other businesses (B2B) then you'd probably get huge unsubscribes if you send something more than once a week. Have a listen and you'll get more food for thought on this along with some examples.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

Life gets in the way when you're planning on doing something else.  That's right, there will be times when it's hard to get things done or make any progress because of other things happening in your life. The key is to not give yourself a hard time when you're in the middle of this. Avoid being too self-critical and try to work with this philosophy: "Do what you can with what you have, in the time available, under your circumstances".  When you do this you'll learn that even doing a little can end up making a big difference.   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

In this episode master salesman and sales hypnotist, Gary Foster, (www.saleshypnosis.co.uk) shares his thoughts on how to improve your sales with proven ideas and techniques that he uses every day. Nobody is born a salesperson and most people never get as good as they could be.   However, it's a skill that can definitely be improved with coaching and practice. Key points: If a successful sales person tells you what to do, just do it (exactly as instructed) Find a formula and repeat it Test and measure, look to improve always Avoid Price Shoppers from Hell Be relentless (but supportive and positive) in your follow-up   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders

Daria Williamson (www.dariawilliamson.com) shares her thoughts on why (and how) people get into a rut with their career and business and how you can begin to work your way out of it. It's easy to get into a situation where you feel like you're just going through the motions each day or, despite you best efforts, you just can't move things forwards. Well, it could be that you're not working to your strengths and are thus unenthused about what you're working on. Identifying and working with your strengths can bust through the blocks and enable you to get more done, improve your confidence, and move forwards in your business and career. Key points: Your strengths are where your energy lies If you're doing stuff that doesn't connect with your strengths then it'll be harder work than it should be Do more work on your strengths and approach other stuff from a position of strengths Delegate (outsource) stuff you don't enjoy   LET'S CONNECT: https://aucklandbusinessbuilders.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.youtube.com/channel/AucklandBusinessBuilders https://www.facebook.com/AucklandBusinessbuilders