The Searl Media Small Business Experience: Recent Episodes
Brian Searl
Daily marketing, tech, and small business advice from Brian Searl, CEO of Searl Media and Insider Perks. On this podcast you will hear at least one daily topic that we cover in-depth for less than 15 minutes. Quick tips to help your small business with adopting new software, enhancing your marketing, or embracing the role technology is playing in the future of business.
Discussion on the responsibility of business owners to know where their websites are being hosted, as well as what your customers think of the experience online. Plus, tips on how to improve speed.
Discussion on Facebook's retail ambitions and how they are focusing on selling small business products. Plus, how other forms of retail and the internet are truly leveling the playing field vs. larger businesses.
Discussion on how you need to build trust for your employees as a small business owner, and how doing so little by little will be a huge benefit for you in the long run. There are things you need to do that they can't do.
Discussion on planning in advance and how this episode was recorded to allow us time to travel and attend conventions for our company. Plus, why doing those things can be a huge benefit your business.
Discussion on how networking in person can be extremely valuable for your small business as well as your personal brand. So much can be done online now, but nothing replaces a handshake and eye contact.
Discussion on the importance of keeping up with trends and the expectations that larger companies are setting for your customers. Do you need a website redesign and not even know it?
Discussion on how phone numbers are tied down to a single device and how this doesn't make sense in a digital world. Learn how to get rid of this barrier using something extremely simple.
Discussion on a recent situation we had to resolve for a client by being creative and taking a different approach. The line between the old marketing guard and the new social media marketer.
Discussion on how selectively giving away your products and services can be a good long-term strategy for business success. Key word in that entire sentence being selectively, not just randomly to anyone/everyone.
We've begun dabbling into the world of video advertising at Searl Media, running ads and measuring results. This is a big part of the future and your small business should start.
Discussion on next steps to take after you can defined your audience, finished social and email marketing, and planned to boost posts. Plus, anyone who has a WordPress website needs to pay attention to the next update.
Discussion on the origins of free social media and why businesses need to start paying to play. Basic tips on how to make sure you are spending money wisely on ads.
Discussion on how to optimize your email marketing as well as your text message marketing. Making sure you have permission, are providing value, and targeting.
Discussion on how your business can take an understanding of your audience and translate that into valuable content for social media. It's not about selling any longer, it's about creating value.
Discussion on how to use simple forms of data to understand who your current and potential customers are, so you can create an informed marketing plan.
Discussion on the latest changes coming to social media, how it continues to evolve, new features on Google Maps, and why it is critical for your business to adapt now.
Discussion on why you need to know who designs, updates, controls, and hosts your current small business website. Practical tips on figuring it out, why you must ask the hard questions, and moving forward.
Discussion on what you should be planning to do for the holiday season, digital marketing wise. Changing hours of operation, taking advantage of website updates, more.
Discussion on helping your customers help themselves, which is what many of them want to do. How creating a FAQ section helps you provide not only a better customer experience but also more staff time.
Discussion on why it is critical for your small business to respond to online reviews and what it looks like from the customer's perspective if you choose not too. Stats and compelling reasons to start now.
Discussion on how to keep yourself organized as a small business owner and not miss anything by mistake. Reminders, Task Management Software, and Project Management Software. Do you need them?
Discussion on using email marketing software for your business. The two main companies you should start with, what you need to prepare beforehand, and the basics of getting started with your email marketing.
Discussion on making sure you have reliable website hosting for your small business and the dangers of leaving it to someone else. Differences between shared hosting, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
Discussion on how your small business might be able to save time and be more organized by using electronic signatures. We discuss how I became a believer years ago, and the benefits of doing so today.
Discussion on how much more efficient and organized your small business can be with time tracking software. Is there a reason to guess or use punch cards any longer?
Discussion on using HR software to help your small business be more organized, comply with legal requirements, and leads to better employee happiness as well as retention. Should you be considering it?
Discussion on branding your small business. Is it enough to slap your logo on everything or is that the old school way of thinking? How do you find your voice?
Discussion on what a CRM is and the different types of things you can accomplish with it. We talk about organization and using one long before you think you are ready. A tool many business owners are missing.
Discussion on waivers for specific types of businesses and whether you need them. Plus, using technology to help you speed up the process and be more organized.
Discussion on the problems we ran into as a small company with accepting online or recurring payments, how we solved them, steps you can take to improve.
Discussion on podcasts and whether your business should start one. Benefits, drawbacks, things you will need to begin and making a commitment. Also, distribution and how to get listeners.
Follow-up discussion on our live chat episode from yesterday with a shift towards providing excellent service on all channels. Is it still a choice to provide customer service on social media or other places that your customers are looking for answers?
Discussion on the benefits and use cases for live chat on your website, not only from a consumer standpoint but from a business efficiency standpoint.
Discussion on using call tracking for your small business and the ways it can benefit both your marketing as well as your bottom line.
Discussion on the mistakes that I made by not hiring a lawyer when we first got started with our company. The ways lawyers can help you (not just worst case), and advice on what to use them for to avoid problems.
Discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of using VoIP for your small business. Find out which provider we are using at Searl Media and some of the things you can do with a really robust system.
Discussion on using domain names for your business and what you can do after it is registered. Easy to understand, we walk through pointing a domain name to an actual website as well as setting up email.
Discussion on the important of photography and using both pictures as well as video to tell your story.
Discussion on committing to social media. How to figure out who your customers are, what type of content they enjoy, and where to reach them effectively.
Discussion on why feedback and reviews are so vital to your business's success online. How they work in your favor and why they drive new revenue for you.
Discussion on how you can learn new skills to push your business or your clients forward. There is no such thing as not knowing something in the internet age.
Discussion on ways you can get a brand new business found. Online listings, social media, and offline networking that still rules the local world.
Starting a new small business, or deciding to finally do marketing the right way for an existing one, can become quickly overwhelming. Start with the basics of local marketing and branch out from there.
Discussion of steps you should be taking to keep your business secure online. Passwords, ways to be secure without the headache, viruses, malware, etc.
Actionable insights into creating a blog for your small business website, how to get started and come up with ideas. Plus, discussions on how to hire affordable writers.
No, we aren't telling you to start a YouTube channel. Find out how you can leverage video in your sales/marketing efforts as well as in customer service. These are the kinds of things that delight and surprise people.
Discussion on how your business can improve in local search rankings compared to your competition. A deep dive into what citations are and how to get the right ones.
A discussion on how to get started with Google Ads in an easy to understand format. Don't be overwhelmed or automatically outsource this to an agency. If you understand the basic framework you can succeed.
Searl Media is here! Day one and we are creating content aimed at helping small businesses in Cleveland. We discuss social media and different ways to succeed.