What’s In This Episode:

Brad's back from the ConvertKit Craft + Commerce Conference, which celebrates creators across platforms. He met some really interesting people and got a lot out of it... and now he's going to reiterate what he tells people all the time: CHARGE MORE.

"You can spend that time doing something you enjoy. " - Brad

Lidia Varesco Racoma's design aesthetic is clean, understandable and adaptable. She's been in business for a while, and as she grows, she needs to outsource responsibilities. But which one and how do you get over the feeling that you need to check their work?

"I might not be as parental. I think I'm more of a teenager running the show." - Jill

Sometimes there's a parent-child dynamic that sneaks into the company. Is it a good thing? And how do you deal with it? Jill and Brad discuss.

Do you parent in your business? 

Guest:

• Lidia Varesco Racoma is an art director and designer with over 20 years of experience and a passion for marketing. Visit her website.

What’s In This Episode:

Kids take up a lot of our time and energy. So why would we choose to build our businesses at the same time? But if it's all chaos all the time, you might as well!

"There's a whole new method to the madness." - Jill

Do kids help or hurt your business? Kids are great for your business, says Jill. They make you figure out how to be more organized with your time. And when you're starting out your business, the skills you learn as a parent - like multitasking - are useful, says Brad, but it becomes less so as the business grows.

"I have kids. I have a business. Make it work." - Brad

When Jill built her businesses, it wasn't like she had everything set up right away. She experienced a lot of trial and error. So when Maddie Boening of Sunstone Candles leaves a voicemail about how to connect her brand message to her brand, Jill knows there's a whole lot of trial and error that goes into something like that. It's extremely rare that you have everything ready to go, even brand messaging. So now's the time to do it, starting by writing a brand message in your own voice. If you're not sure how, ask your customers, your friends, your followers!

Do kids help or hurt your business?

What’s In This Episode:

We get a voicemail from Nedra Rezinas who talked to us on ep. 133(!!!). She really loved listening to our episode 311, "How do I build trust with prospects?"and thought it was helpful.

"I see a lot of people using email like it's a text message." - Brad

How do you go about making your content last and last? You want to get your blog posts out in front of a lot of people - can you repurpose it? And how do you promote it?

"When you say the word 'LinkedIn,' my brain goes to mush." - Jill

Is Twitter dead? How do you use Instagram for your business? And is LinkedIn great or is LinkedIn GREAT? Jill and Brad give some tips on what you're creating and where to share it in order to make what you're putting out there last and last.

What tips do you have for making your content last?

What’s In This Episode:

Brad hates the word "content". He thinks that whatever you put out, it's got to be of a quality that people would pay you for it (and sometimes, they do).

"It's very different to know your boundaries and then to actually do something about them. " - Jill

Web designer, podcast host, musician, and mother of twins Gretchen DeVault calls in to ask how to deal with burnout. Brad and Jill advise her on why sleep is so important, scheduling a day off every now and then, turning off tech, and consider outsourcing some of her responsibilities.

And how can she cover that cost? Raise prices!

"Speak in your own voice and tell your own stories." - Brad

Content used to be a thing that set businesses apart but now we're drowning in it, says Brad. So how can you stand out from the noise? They discuss lazy content, consistency, and inspiration.

Where are you in the stages of entrepreneurial success?  Listen in!»

Guest:

• Gretchen DeVault is the co-founder and lead web designer and strategist for Tiny Blue Sky. She has 15+ years of web design and branding experience and an established record of producing award-winning work that drives business.
• Gretchen is also a business expert and shares her love of all things entrepreneurship as co-host of Lean the F*ck Out, a weekly podcast for female entrepreneurs.
• She is also a singer/songwriter and guitarist for the indie pop band The Icicles(along with her husband Zane), and shoegazer band Voluptuous Panic. Her music has been licensed in commercials for Motorola and Target, as well as several independent films.

What’s In This Episode:

Anchor Advisors has gone virtual!

"A whole bunch of your competition is gone." - Brad

There are certain advantages that come with being in business for a long time.

"If you just wait through the tough stuff, you're gonna come out okay." - Jill

Jill and Brad talk through what the value of longevity in your business means: what they thought then compared to what they know now, what competition looks like, who their strongest friendships are, and Jill's realization that patience really is a virtue.

What lessons have you learned from being in business as long as you have?

What’s In This Episode:

Wanna receive Jill or Brad's newsletters? Find Brad's at Anchor Advisors. Find Jill's at Founding Moms.

"You can't sell anything to people that they don't already need. " - Brad

Mel McSherry calls in to discuss mailing lists: How can she do it authentically without being salesy? Brad says that if Mel has a valuable service, she has to sell it. Jill advises her to continue doing and interacting with people as she already has been, just in an email format, and she'll be able to succeed. But she needs to be aware of the fact that even if people are subscribed, they need to be invested in what she's doing if they're going to get updates about it. So think about what it is that her audience needs?

"We need to know what's challenging for us versus what's not." - Jill

Brad breaks down the stages of entrepreneurial success:

• Phase one: startup - try things
• Phase two: growth - this is where the work is
• Phase three: stability - your team helps with expansion

Where are you in the stages of entrepreneurial success? 

Guest:

• Mel McSherry is an International Business Development Coach and Speaker. She predominantly works with women business owners who are exhausted and overwhelmed by what they think they need to do in order to be successful. She helps them slash their stress by showing them how to prioritize their profits, their time, and themselves correctly so they can create the money, the business, and the life they want, fast! Visit her website.

What’s In This Episode:

Have you ever turned that corner from "diligent followup" to "annoying stalker when you're checking in on a proposal or pitch?

"I feel like if they were gonna respond, they would have responded." - Brad

Jill and Brad fundamentally disagree on this issue, and even on the receiving end of relentless pitches, Jill only gets annoyed if she knows the sender is a bot or writing templated emails. She knows how hard pitching is, so she's likely to respond with a "not interested," rather than delete - which is what Brad does.

"The 'no' is an acknowledgment that they got my pitch. No, to me, is maybe." - Jill

Jill tells a very interesting story about how she campaigned to be on the Stephen Colbert show, an endeavor that lasted 3 years. So... perseverance wins? They discuss the internal and external reactions of following up, what people might think and what's really going on in people's lives, and how ego gets involved. Brad has some tips to help.

How do you deal with followup?

What’s In This Episode:

You've met someone to collaborate with. How do you decide if you want to work with them? Jill looks for people who are direct and efficient. Brad looks for punctuality and reliability.

"Your mind-shift into 'I'm helping you; I'm not taking advantage of you,' is very genuine. " - Jill

Writer, interviewer, and documentarian Nora Kerr calls in to ask how she can reach more people and generate sales leads with limited time and resources? Jill and Brad think partnerships - and not more referrals - may just be her answer.

"We have to realize that people are very superficial." - Brad

So how do you build up trust in business? In person, eye contact is exceedingly important. On the phone, Brad is totally present and Jill paces to keep up her energy. They also talk about the vibes they get from someone based on how dressed up or down they are.

How do you build trust with prospects?

Guest:

• Nora Kerr is the founder of Memoir for Me. After graduating years ago with a creative writing degree (and writing her thesis on her family's gift of the gab!) and spending many hours in a darkroom, Nora started out in publishing and then worked for many years in IT. But in 2015, after a deeply personal experience preserving the story of her own father, she launched this business and returned to doing what she loves best: listening and documenting. She brings that same passion she had for her dad's project to every family and every story. Find her on Facebook and Instagram.

What’s In This Episode:

Jill's recently made some changes over at The Founding Moms, going from monthly meetups to weekly masterminds.

"I'm not even sure I know what a mastermind group is." - Brad

Audio branding and content marketing expert Tina Dietz's company is in a period of rapid expansion and she doesn't know who to hire first. They talk through pain points and trust issues.

"I want facilitators and listeners more than problem solvers." - Jill

So what is a mastermind, anyway? Usually a small group with an agenda that aims to solve whatever business problems group members have. Jill and Brad talk through masterminds and what the benefit of having peers listen, talk through, and get clarity is.

Are you part of a mastermind group?

Guest:

• Find Tina Dietz on LinkedIn. 

What’s In This Episode:

What's the value of going to a conference? Brad just spent over $1000 for a ticket to a conference in Boise, not to mention airfare and accommodations. Is it worth it?

"If you know 'we make the most money doing x,' immediately, you know what the focus is." - Jill

Web developer Nicole Guzman calls in to discuss how her web design studio has been catering to general interests, but she thinks it may be time to focus on one area. Jill and Brad talk about the pros and cons of working within a niche and how to market effectively.

"Conferences are really great for the 'stuffing your head full of ideas' phase." - Brad

How do you evaluate what a conference is worth as an attendee? Is it worth it if for nothing else than to get away from your business for a few days? Plus, when you're attending the conference, you're focused on it, rather than it and also a million other things.

Do you think conferences and offline events are worth it?  Listen in!»

Guest:

• Nicole Guzman is the founder of GooseWorks, a full-service branding and web development agency based in Newburgh, NY. Find her on Instagram.