Business Belters: Recent Episodes
Business Belters
Business Belters is a weekly podcast that discusses hot topics around business. Tune in for some knowledge bombs and business belters. The show is brought to you by Mark Connolly of Marketing Mavens and John Loudon of Hybrid Anchor.
Join us as we discuss buying equity or purchasing businesses outright. There are recommended ways of separating risk from your primary business. In this episode, we deep dive into the advantages of having a group and operating multiple companies as a singular portfolio.
We have seen it for years. I didn’t previously think too much about it. A group is just when you have a few complimentary companies and you need to say they are all in a family right? Wrong.
There was so much more to that, and there is a lot of value in doing this if you are actively investing in other companies.
This is the last episode in the long-term strategy series and it is indeed a belter!
Too many cooks can spoil the broth, in this episode Mark and John discuss the risks of bringing in too many investors. Why you should be careful who you get into bed with. The risk so Venture Capital investment and protections of having clear directors/shareholder agreements if you are going into business with one or multiple other parties.
Buy-to-build or buy-to-sell there are a lot of insights that we have seen over the years being discussed on this episode. Like all things, no one gets it perfect, regardless of whether it's your first time or your 10th time. Experience comes from repeating the activities.
When buying businesses there are a number of ways it can be achieved. When you first look into investment and what it means to buy companies you might think you need to have millions sitting in your bank. That might help if you are trying to buy a well-established and cash-producing company, but even then the reality is you are buying an asset and if it has credible value within it you can use that to raise vendor finance or private investment when it comes time to buy.
One of the key observations that we have seen over the years is that investors will not have working capital sitting ready to deploy, rather they are investors are great at what they do because they put their money to work. The term "liquid" is used for how much readily available cash you have on hand, this number is often surprisingly low. More so buying a company is maybe not as large a price tag as you might first think.
The company's value is determined across a number of areas, its debts, its self-sufficiency (does it need that MD in it to make it work), are you buying a job? When you buy a coffee shop that's often one ex-corporate staff looking to purchase fall into. That all drives the value down. Sustainable contracts and profits drive it up.
When you build a business you could spend a small fortune building up a brand and securing regular clients, or you could buy a business that already has a foothold and start, and then you set yourself to growth and continuation of its next chapter. In this episode, we discuss a number of methods used when buying divisions, assets, equity or just outright ownership of a company. With the caveat of no money down.
A lot of business owners ask what is the best method for identifying companies ready for exit. You may have the money, time, or skills to acquire companies but first, you have to find the right opportunities to have those discussions.
In this episode, we talk about sourcing, and also how to structure and extract revenue from portfolios. Are you taking dividends, what role do pensions play in this type of investing? What about crowd funding and raising money on Kickstarter, Crowdcude, Betalist, and others?
In business, it's not just exit that triggers the need and wants for investment. Many businesses will use M&A activity to drive growth. Having 100% of a cake is all well and good but if you could have 50% of a cake and it was 30 times the size of what they 100% was previously it's not then surprising to see that investment remains popular.
We really enjoyed putting this episode together. Have you considered investment or looked at acquisition for your business growth?
Building a business is hard work, with 90% of new startups failing means that only 10% will get the opportunity to consider how best to scale up what you have built.
You might find yourself asking:
Who are the key players you will need in your team to make this happen?
How can we guarantee quality and processes are followed?
What is the overall plan and structure of the company now and long term when you hit scale?
Are there challenges ahead in the business plan that will prevent you from scaling?
How will you ensure you secure the best 14 "A" players, and also how will you hire the next 45 after them?
Successfully scaling a business is not as easy as it might seem. Anyone can read a few books and add reactively but making something larger while retaining what made it successful? That is a real challenge.
In this episode, Mark and John discuss various methods to consider when successfully scaling a business.
It takes a lot of sweat equity to build up a successful business. At the end of the day, after all the hours, days, and weeks we pour into our businesses, we want to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. For many, that will mean selling your business. As far off as that may seem, it’s crucial to prepare for a big exit, right from the start.
For many savvy entrepreneurs, selling your business for a windfall of cash is the goal right at the outset. But even if it’s not your dream, no entrepreneur should rule it out. Selling your business can give you a large lump sum of capital, which can then be used to either buy other assets you can then build up or perhaps to expand another project.
But here’s the thing. Even if you build a business with zero intention of selling it for a big payday, and even if you never do actually sell, you should still build your business as if you are going to sell it someday.
In this episode, Mark and discuss building a business mindset as well as looking to make your business profitable and sellable.
It takes a lot of sweat equity to build up a successful business. At the end of the day, after all the hours, days, and weeks we pour into our businesses, we want to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. For many, that will mean selling your business. As far off as that may seem, it’s crucial to prepare for a big exit, right from the start.
For many savvy entrepreneurs, selling your business for a windfall of cash is the goal right at the outset. But even if it’s not your dream, no entrepreneur should rule it out. Selling your business can give you a large lump sum of capital, which can then be used to either buy other assets you can then build up, or perhaps to expand another project.
But here’s the thing. Even if you build a business with zero intention of selling it for a big payday, and even if you never do actually sell, you should still build your business as if you are going to sell it someday.
In this episode, Mark and discuss have a building a business mindset as well as looking to make your business profitable and sellable.
A lifestyle business is one that is geared toward supporting the owner’s income and personal requirements rather than maximising revenue and is often considered an alternative to retirement.
The goal of a lifestyle business is to create a sustainable and pleasant work/life balance. The business should be lucrative enough to allow the lifestyle the owner desires without having to sacrifice a personal life. The type of business may also be selected on the basis of personal interest, so that time spent working is enjoyable. The lifestyle business concept is sometimes contrasted with that of the startup, which is intended to grow rapidly and create significant profit.
On that basis, a startup may attract venture backing. Because it is not intended to generate significant growth or revenue, owners of lifestyle businesses usually have to provide all the funding themselves.
In this episode Mark and John discuss the risks and rewards of a lifestyle business.
Choosing an exit strategy for your business might not seem like an obvious step when you’re just getting started, however planning ahead is an important part of building a business. An exit strategy is a plan for how you will eventually leave the business. It also includes details on what will happen to the enterprise after you have left.
All businesses need an exit strategy at some point, even if that just means transferring ownership of the company when one owner decides to retire. Leaving a business can be stressful, and emotions can often cloud your judgment. Should this occur, a good exit strategy that you’ve come up with in advance will enable you to address tough situations rationally.
In this episode, John and Mark discuss parts when making your exit strategy.
What is your long-term business strategy? Do you have a succession plan in place?
You can’t run a business, regardless of its size, without talented people ready to move into key positions when the current occupants leave. Even the most successful employers can run off a cliff if they don’t have a solid succession plan in place.
Succession planning is a strategy for identifying and developing future leaders at your company — not just at the top but for major roles at all levels.
It helps your business prepare for all contingencies by preparing high-potential workers for advancement. In this podcast, we introduce the business strategy series and talk about succession planning.
Enjoy.
If you’ve ever been in a client-facing position it’s pretty easy to differentiate between a good client relationship and a not-so-good one. Good client relationships make you feel like a true partner to your client. They trust and listen to you, and you feel good about the work you do for them. As a result, your relationship builds and expands into bigger and better things, either through longevity, additional projects or business, or the biggest compliment—referrals to other clients. But building a strong relationship goes beyond delivering on what your contract says, although that’s of course crucial. In this podcast Mark and John give you some tips to help you wow your clients every day and further boost your reputation as a strong partner.
Clients are generally the lifeline of any business. It should come as no surprise that a significant source of stress for any business owner are bad clients. What does a bad client look like? Most business owners probably can picture them vividly after having dealt with a few of them. They are the ones who have high demands, only to come up short when it’s time to pay the invoice. Some of them might come up with excuses as to why they deserve more than what was initially agreed upon. What are those red flags though? And if you miss these warnings, how should you deal with difficult customers? In this podcast, Mark and John offer insights on how to deal with difficult clients.
Still trying to be everything to everyone? A broad business that appeals to as many customers as possible sounds fantastic on the surface. That is until you realise that you’ll be competing with endless pre-established companies, all of which have greater brand awareness than you. Being broad, or generalised means you have a harder time standing out among a sea of similar organisations. At the same time, you’ll find yourself struggling for presence. So, how do you survive as a small fish in a big pond? Simple. All you need to do is find your niche market. In this episode, Mark and John show you how niche market saves you money, improves your marketing return on investment, and elevates your chances of earning recognition as a truly unique brand.
Still trying to be everything to everyone? A broad business that appeals to as many customers as possible sounds fantastic on the surface. That is until you realise that you’ll be competing with endless pre-established companies, all of which have greater brand awareness than you. Being broad, or generalised means you have a harder time standing out among a sea of similar organisations. At the same time, you’ll find yourself struggling for presence. So, how do you survive as a small fish in a big pond? Simple. All you need to do is find your niche market. In this episode, Mark and John show you how niche market saves you money, improves your marketing return on investment, and elevates your chances of earning recognition as a truly unique brand.
Still trying to be everything to everyone? A broad business that appeals to as many customers as possible sounds fantastic on the surface. That is until you realise that you’ll be competing with endless pre-established companies, all of which have greater brand awareness than you. Being broad, or generalised means you have a harder time standing out among a sea of similar organisations. At the same time, you’ll find yourself struggling for presence. So, how do you survive as a small fish in a big pond? Simple. All you need to do is find your niche market. In this episode, Mark and John show you how niche market saves you money, improves your marketing return on investment, and elevates your chances of earning recognition as a truly unique brand.
Still trying to be everything to everyone? A broad business that appeals to as many customers as possible sounds fantastic on the surface. That is until you realise that you’ll be competing with endless pre-established companies, all of which have greater brand awareness than you. Being broad, or generalised means you have a harder time standing out among a sea of similar organisations. At the same time, you’ll find yourself struggling for presence. So, how do you survive as a small fish in a big pond? Simple. All you need to do is find your niche market. In this episode, Mark and John show you how niche market saves you money, improves your marketing return on investment, and elevates your chances of earning recognition as a truly unique brand.
And here - Getting your company’s culture right is as important as nailing your business strategy.
Every company has its own unique culture, it’s just that many don’t know what it is.
A strong, positive company culture creates a great place to work with loyal and productive staff supporting your business growth.
How do you start building a positive company culture?
In this podcast, we shall guide you through steps for building one. Whether you are a start-up or a big company, this episode will help you connect the dots and help you in shaping your company culture.
When it comes to connecting with customers, one of the biggest challenges companies face is understanding who they are and how that defines the way they buy.
Unsurprisingly, different generations think and behave differently.
In generational marketing, customers are segmented and targeted by generation, determined by the year they were born. Currently, we have four main generations: baby boomers, generation X (Gen X), generation Y (millennials), and generation Z (Gen Z). Each generation has its own set of beliefs, preferences, and shared experiences, which influence the way they think and act.
In this podcast, we’ll examine the best marketing strategies for targeting different generational demographics.
Enjoy!
In our increasingly interconnected, online world, a natural and gradual shift in the sales space from traditional methods to digital selling had already been occurring. However, the pandemic accelerated this shift and made it inevitable for businesses to adopt these practices sooner rather than later. If you or your sales team previously practiced more traditional, in-person sales methods, the shift to digital selling may have happened haphazardly in a reaction to current events.
As the world continues to settle into the new normal and the sales methods of the past fall to the wayside, it is important to fully understand the potential of digital selling and why to leverage it in your business. In this episode, Mark and John discuss digital selling and their favourite tools and tips.
In this podcast we tackle a different subject - neurodiversity.
“Neurodiversity is the idea that neurological differences like autism and ADHD are the result of normal, natural variation in the human genome.”
More than ever, we need new perspectives, different ideas and broader ways of thinking to solve the big problems of our time.
This is where a neurodiverse workforce can really benefit a business. Many businesses have caught on to the benefits of inclusion, but there are still lots of opportunities for thinking bigger and embracing different ways of thinking.
In this episode, Mark and John discuss how we can celebrate the strengths that diversity can bring but how we must also be proactive in our support.
Mentoring is a brilliant way to expedite growth in your career or when building your business. In a fast-changing world, it's important to always be learning and focus on your personal development.
Tony Robbins once said that "success leaves clues" and it is definitely the case. When you see someone in the position you want to be in, one of the best ways to get there is to engage them in conversation and follow steps they have made to achieve that success.
One of the routes to market is taking part in public opportunities through tendering sources. There is a perception that government buys only certain products and services but the reality is they buy everything from pencils, to uniforms, from catering to tanks.
The tendering market is an 11 million dollar market that the majority of business owners ignore because there are barriers either real or perceived around the tendering process.
The question on today's podcast "Are tenders worth the hassle?" should a business owner invest the time in cultivating this skill or are there easier, quicker routes to winning work?
In this episode John and Mark answer one of the most popular questions we get asked by Start Up businesses. How do you set your price? What should you consider and how do you ensure that you are not going in too high or too low with your rates and services.
A business is a vehicle to build up revenue, but it also has to ensure it is not overcharging its client base and that a fair exchange is being met on the investments clients put in.
There are lots of ways to work out the going rates in a sector and also considerations such as the wages and office costs for what your business will eventually become. It's another great episode... absolute belter of a topic.
Public speaking is a brilliant opportunity to raise your profile.
Some people seem to glow when they’re given a microphone and are asked to give a speech, while others of us would much rather rush through as fast as possible.
It may seem at times that extroverts always feel comfortable in front of a crowd, but it still takes skill and practice to speak effectively in a way that engages your audience.
In this episode, Mark and John discuss their best tips and how to approach public speaking.
No good military officer would undertake even a small-scale attack on a limited objective without a clear concept of his strategy. No seasoned politician would undertake a campaign for a major office without an equally clear concept of his strategy.
In the field of business management, however, we frequently find men deploying resources on a large scale without any clear notion of what their strategy is. And yet a company’s strategy is a vital ingredient in determining its future. A valid strategy will yield growth, profit, or whatever other objectives the managers have established. An inappropriate strategy not only will fail to yield benefits, but also may result in disaster.
In this podcast Mark and John discuss what strategy is and how it can be evaluated.
In this episode, Mark and John discuss Influencer Marketing and the benefits it can bring to many to your business.
Influencers have existing relationships and trust build with other groups you may wish to target or promote into. Celebrity endorsements were the original form of influencer marketing, but this has since expanded into your digital celebrities. The YouTubers, Podcasters, upcoming athletes, and Instagram models.
In today's podcast, Mark and John discuss the very best they have read.
Reading is such an important part of continuing to sharpen your business skillset. Taking the time to read is a discipline and it is essential that if you have a limited time to read, that you get to the best books for your return on that investment of time.
This Business Belters Episode is for you if you ask yourself questions in business and in marketing:
- What are the best business books in the world?
- Which books should I read?
- What are the best entrepreneurship books?
- Which books should I read if I want to be successful?
For many people, getting up in the morning is an inconsistent, blurry mess—and it has the power to dictate how you feel and how you work for the rest of the day. But it doesn’t need to be this way. A habitual morning routine can have a massive impact on your business and personal life.
But, if you’re looking for a one-size-fits-all approach to your morning routine. There isn’t one. The perfect formula does not exist.
Everyone’s morning routine is unique, but the morning routine habits that Mark and John discuss can help you build a better one of your own.
This is a great episode. Enjoy!
Becoming an expert negotiator requires the ability to structure and execute complex negotiations effectively. But because many negotiators don’t have the knowledge or tools, they find themselves in situations where they keep getting the same results...
In this episode, John and Mark discuss a range of proven negotiation tactics drawn from previous experience and learning programs they have participated in over the years.
Do you want to drive success as a negotiator?
Whether you’re involved in a high-stakes deal for your company or engaging in multiparty negotiations. Life is a series of negotiations.
Being a solid negotiator is a skill that will keep delivering for you as a business owner. It may even be the most important skill you can build.
- Kids wanting an ice cream at a bad time?
- Arranging a settlement for a business merger?
- Acquiring a new business?
- or simply closing a sale?
The Negotiation element is key.
Despite its full potential, most of the businesses fail to leverage the full power of case studies
A marketing case study is a story you tell that reveals how you helped past clients and how your business was successful. This is used to bring in new clients.
Case studies bring you the opportunity to demonstrate the measurable and proven value of your products or services to your target audience.
In this podcast, we’ll talk about the importance of case studies and how it helps grow your business.
Video marketing has become one of your most essential marketing tools to date, regardless of your B2B niche or industry. Cisco reported that by 2022, online videos would make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic — 15 times higher than it was in 2017.
If your mission is to sell successfully to other businesses then listen to Mark and John’s mind-blowing B2B video marketing tips you can use to increase sales.
Did you know that companies that take on a structured approach towards conversion optimisation are twice as likely to see a large increase in sales?
Conversion Rate Optimisation is a necessary part of delivering better customer journeys. In this episode, Mark and John share the best website conversion practices they have picked up over their career.
It’s go time! Your marketing campaigns have paid off and you’ve been inundated with fresh leads to hopefully turn into sales. That last part hinges on your ability to strategically and effectively follow up on those leads without letting any fall by the wayside or scare them off by coming on too strongly.
According to research, 80% of sales leads require five follow-ups after the initial contact, but only 8% of salespeople actually follow up this many times.
In this episode, Mark and John discuss lead follow best practices to help you close more deals in less time.
Whatever the social network, there’s a right way and wrong way to use it, especially if your focus is on growing your business or career.
Understanding the etiquette and best practices will make you more successful using the platform to build your brand, attract new clients, and become less fearful of making a mistake or damaging your professional reputation.
In this episode, Mark and John talk about the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn and how you can make the most of the social media channel.
The pandemic accelerated existing trends and forced the adoption of new ways of working. Organisations must reimagine their work and the role of offices in creating safe, productive, and enjoyable jobs and lives for employees.
In this podcast, John (Hybrid Anchor) and Mark (Marketing Mavens) discuss the future of the workplace post-covid.
Your potential to manage time determines your success or failure. The better you manage your time, the more you can achieve your work goals.
Time management is essential as it allows you to organise and take control of the important aspects of your life. Thus, you gain more potential to be productive if you know how to manage time better, better organise, and take charge of important events.
In this podcast, Mark Connolly (Marketing Mavens) and John Loudon (Hybrid Anchor) talk about effective time management techniques that will make you more successful at work.
Most people think of fear as a negative emotion. It is actually a very natural response that is a good thing because it indicates that you are pushing yourself and dreaming big. Fear appears when you embark on something great.
In this podcast, Mark Connolly (Marketing Mavens) and John Loudon talk about overcoming business fears and how you can use fear as a motivation.
It's a topic that not many talk about - Business Mistakes. In this podcast, John Loudon (Hybrid Anchor) and Mark Connolly (Marketing Mavens) discuss their business mistakes and how they overcame them.
In part 2 of this brand new business podcast, Mark Connolly (Marketing Mavens) and John Loudon (Hybrid Anchor) discuss the origins of getting into business. In this podcast, they discuss the origins of entrepreneurship, in particular, how they took the step and what plans they put in place.
In this brand new podcast, Mark Connolly (Marketing Mavens) and John Loudon (Hybrid Anchor) talk about their career and how they got into the industry. The episode introduces the makers of the podcast.