Welcome to
Podcast
Listen In On Conversations
And Learn About Business
Success And Discover The
Top Marketing Secrets
Thought Leaders Business Lab Podcast
Build and grow a successful business based on your expertise, and be seen and heard as an influential thought leader. If you're an expert, coach, consultant, course creator, business-oriented and aspiring entrepreneur, come and join Samantha and I as we discuss and explore ways of marketing strategies just for you. Have fun!
309: The 5 Essential Automations to Scale Your Business
307: Business Not Going As Well As You’d Like? Try This…
305: The New Normal
303: Content Ideas for Social Media
299: Grow Your Team From Zero to Hero
295: Are You Making These Marketing Mistakes? (Part 2)
293: Are You Making These Marketing Mistakes? (Part 1)
Thought Leaders Business Lab
Samantha Riley & Tim Hyde
Build and grow a successful business based on your expertise, and be seen and heard as an influential thought leader. If you’re an expert, coach, consultant, course creator, business-oriented and aspiring entrepreneur, come and join Samantha and I as we discuss and explore ways of marketing strategies just for you. Have fun!
March 11, 2021
When done right, lead magnets can attract many new leads to your business. However, some lead magnets don’t do their job. They don’t entice readers and website visitors to share their emails and become part of a database.
But what really causes these lead generation problems? What is the root cause?
In this episode, we talk about five lead generation problems that you may have, and how you can fix them.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Good and bad lead magnets (01:17)
- Problem #1 Attracting the wrong people(02:36)
- Problem #2 Giving away too much (08:20)
- Problem #3 Not offering a call to action (10:07)
- Problem #4 Call to action not aligned with your lead magnet topic (11:54)
- Problem #5 Not continuing the conversation (14:21)
March 4, 2021
Keeping and growing an email contact list is important for various reasons. It provides leads for sales, customers for new products or programs and a feedback and networking pool. In spite of its importance, though, some businesses still don’t have a list.
In this episode, we share 7 strategies to start and grow your list. These strategies guarantee that you will move your social media or other contacts into your more reliable email database. We’ll also share how you can maximise the benefits of these strategies for your business.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- The money is in the list (01:40)
- Use strategies to get people into your database (02:40)
- Strategy #1 Offer a valuable lead magnet (04:30)
- Strategy #2 Create content that aligns with the lead magnet (07:57)
- Strategy #3 Cross promotions (09:22)
- Strategy #4 Pop-ups (11:12)
- Strategy #5 Early access and bonuses (12:52)
- Strategy #6 Challenges (13:58)
- Strategy #7 Create a viral share (16:25)
February 26, 2021
With the year just starting, many business owners are working on large projects to roll out during the rest of the year. But many of these projects take time, and sometimes need a quick cash injection to get them up and running sooner.
In this episode, we will share six ways to bring more cash into your business so you can roll out those projects. These methods can be implemented at any time of the year whenever you need a quick injection of revenue.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Projects need money to roll out (01:03)
- 6 ways to get more cash into your business (03:06)
- #1 Limited 1:1 sessions (04:00)
- #2 Quick consult or order (05:31)
- #3 Paid online workshop (07:43)
- #4 Paid challenge (09:07)
- #5 Discounted offer (11:37)
- #6 The bundle (13:52)
- Bonus: Think of an escalation path (16:59)
Feb 18, 2021
As a business owner, you need to make money. However, you may be using just one revenue model, and missing other opportunities. This means you’re limiting your earning potential.
In this episode, we share 6 revenue models that you can mix and match to increase your revenue. We discuss the pros and cons of each model. We also give examples and tips on how you could integrate each of them into your businesses.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
Importance of using different revenue models for your business (01:40)
Model #1 Payment upfront (3:51)
Model #2 Continuity/Membership (7:24)
Model #3 Milestone payments (11:00)
Model #4 Payment in arrears (14:07)
Model #5 Affiliate commissions/Partner payments (16:07)
Model #6 Revenue share (19:13)
Combining the models (22:51)
March 4, 2021
Keeping and growing an email contact list is important for various reasons. It provides leads for sales, customers for new products or programs and a feedback and networking pool. In spite of its importance, though, some businesses still don’t have a list.
In this episode, we share 7 strategies to start and grow your list. These strategies guarantee that you will move your social media or other contacts into your more reliable email database. We’ll also share how you can maximise the benefits of these strategies for your business.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- The money is in the list (01:40)
- Use strategies to get people into your database (02:40)
- Strategy #1 Offer a valuable lead magnet (04:30)
- Strategy #2 Create content that aligns with the lead magnet (07:57)
- Strategy #3 Cross promotions (09:22)
- Strategy #4 Pop-ups (11:12)
- Strategy #5 Early access and bonuses (12:52)
- Strategy #6 Challenges (13:58)
- Strategy #7 Create a viral share (16:25)
Or are you procrastinating? Is this busy-ness moving the needle towards your goals?
In this episode, we discuss three tips on how to increase your visibility and attract leads. By establishing and re-establishing relationships using these methods, you continue the conversations with clients, instead of leaving them in the dark. You may also find opportunities in the least likely places.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Are you busy doing the right things or are you just procrastinating? (01:18)
- Moving to what you should be doing vs taking time out (02:40)
- What will make your day successful? (05:37)
- How do you show up to people? (09:19)
- “Low-hanging fruit” (10:17)
- How to reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to for a while (13:30)
- Emails keep your list warm (16:16)
- You can have varied engagements via social media (18:36)
- Take advantage of the power of personal outreach (21:07)
February 4, 2021
Have you ever had a challenge with effectively managing client expectations?
Whether you have a new client or a client you’ve been working with for some time, setting and managing client expectations early and often is key to a lasting relationship.
In this episode of the Thought Leaders Business Lab, we share the five-step process for dealing with expectations between you as the business owner, and your client.
Managing client expectations is much easier when you set objectives and boundaries at the beginning of your relationship.
It is essential that you share the same end goal as your client or customer. While unforeseen hiccups can happen at any phase of working with a client, there are ways to ease the situation and deal with problems as they arise.
Of course, every project is different, but client expectation management is an art you can hone and master.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- We can’t always get it right (2:50)
- When should you start setting up client expectations? (5:38)
- Checking in periodically with yourself and your client (6:16)
- Relationships are a two-way street (6:45)
- The process prior to signing up new clients (8:17)
- The foundation stage takes the most time and work (8:40)
- Celebrating small wins along the way (10:35)
- Breaking down the steps along the way to set expectations (11:20)
- Setting expectations per phase (12:33)
- The five-step process for dealing with misalignment of expectations (15:08)
- Step One: Acknowledging the breakdown (15:12)
- Being grateful vs being defensive (16:30)
- Step Two: Empathize with your client or customer (18:00)
- Step Three: Getting clarification of what’s going wrong (18:56)
- Step Four: Way forward (19:32)
- Step Five: Agreement of the way forward (20:45)
- Having check-in points with your clients (20:55)
January 28, 2021
Knowing the deeper “why” of your business provides the foundation on which to build everything else.
There has to be a higher reason for your business aside from just making a profit. Having a clear and compelling brand purpose serves as your guiding star for all the decisions you make in your business – from the clients you attract, to the team members you bring on.
Join us in this episode as we unpack the importance of brand purpose to drive your business forward.
Purpose-driven companies outperform their competitors because they have a solid foundation for every action they do in the business.
What is your reason for being besides making money?
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- What is a brand? (3:19)
- Managing your day-to-day work (4:09)
- Thinking in silos (5:10)
- Understanding your brand (5:25)
- Your brand is how others think of you (6:00)
- What is the importance of building a consistent brand? (7:40)
- Know, Like, Trust (7:55)
- Delivering the solution to your client’s problems (8:25)
- Revisiting your vision and mission to get more clarity (9:13)
- Bringing in the right team members (10:28)
- Unpacking the brand (12:10)
- What is your brand promise? (12:17)
- Difference of a vision and mission for your business (14:23)
- Brand purpose (15:30)
- Attracting an ideal client (21:31)
December 10, 2020
Isaac Newton said it perfectly, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”.
This simply means, building on the knowledge and success made by others in order to help with your own growth and success.
When it comes to business success, there is no one single formula. Which makes it difficult to boil everything down to a short list of boxes that you have to tick to become successful in business.
In this episode, we delve into the traits for business success that we have learned through our own experiences. We discuss the traits we have observed successful entrepreneurs have and the way they conduct themselves in their businesses.
Finding success in entrepreneurship is no easy task, but focusing on taking imperfect action will move the needle for your business. And remember, building a successful business is not a sprint, but a marathon.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Longevity, tenacity, grit and resilience (1:46)
- How do you wow people to build relationships? (3:50)
- Not being afraid to invest in relationships (5:16)
- Understanding the power of people (5:40)
- Without people you don’t have customers (5:50)
- Surrounding yourself with the right people (6:27)
- The value of networking (7:24)
- Prioritizing your time (7:59)
- Business growth comes in small bites (9:50)
- Focusing on one thing per week (10:03)
- Deepening business relationships (11:03)
- Working on your business vs working in your business (12:50)
- Taking action (14:00)
- Taking imperfect action (14:17)
- There is nothing perfect for everyone (15:40)
- Perfectionism vs procrastination (16:00)
- How long should you block out working on your business (16:30)
- Asking for feedback and ideas (19:36)
- Successful people know that they can’t do it alone (20:11)
- Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable (21:20)
November 26, 2020
Isaac Newton said it perfectly, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”.
This simply means, building on the knowledge and success made by others in order to help with your own growth and success.
When it comes to business success, there is no one single formula. Which makes it difficult to boil everything down to a short list of boxes that you have to tick to become successful in business.
In this episode, we delve into the traits for business success that we have learned through our own experiences. We discuss the traits we have observed successful entrepreneurs have and the way they conduct themselves in their businesses.
Finding success in entrepreneurship is no easy task, but focusing on taking imperfect action will move the needle for your business. And remember, building a successful business is not a sprint, but a marathon.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Longevity, tenacity, grit and resilience (1:46)
- How do you wow people to build relationships? (3:50)
- Not being afraid to invest in relationships (5:16)
- Understanding the power of people (5:40)
- Without people you don’t have customers (5:50)
- Surrounding yourself with the right people (6:27)
- The value of networking (7:24)
- Prioritizing your time (7:59)
- Business growth comes in small bites (9:50)
- Focusing on one thing per week (10:03)
- Deepening business relationships (11:03)
- Working on your business vs working in your business (12:50)
- Taking action (14:00)
- Taking imperfect action (14:17)
- There is nothing perfect for everyone (15:40)
- Perfectionism vs procrastination (16:00)
- How long should you block out working on your business (16:30)
- Asking for feedback and ideas (19:36)
- Successful people know that they can’t do it alone (20:11)
- Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable (21:20)
November 19, 2020
People are winding down as the year comes to a close. It’s chock-full of holidays. People are shifting their focus on personal things rather than work. So, it’s no wonder why many entrepreneurs also step back and slow down their businesses during this season.
However, for most business owners, the months from November until January are the busy season.
In this episode, Samantha and Tim discuss why slowing down may not be the right move for your business. Rather, the busy season can be the perfect period to sign more clients.
They also share some do’s and don’ts during the busy season so you can have a profitable three months and prepare your business for 2021.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- The busy season: slow down vs step on the gas (02:28)
- COVID’s effect on the internationalisation and expansion of certain businesses (04:11)
- This is not the time to change your organisational structure (07:19)
- Don’t start developing new programs (09:35)
- Make sure you have your marketing plans in place (12:33)
- People are spending money so grab this opportunity to offer your service to your target clients (14:25)
- Don’t offer discounts; but do offer value adds (17:40)
- Map your business and lifestyle plans for 2021 (19:22)
November 12, 2020
Social media can have a heavy influence on our daily life. Did you know that an algorithm within social media platforms tracks your behaviour and curates the content that will show up in your feed based on what you do, what you see and what you follow?
This means that you create what you see on social media, so you don’t have to be just a passive receiver of content.
In this episode, Sam and Tim talk about how social media can alter your reality and how you can get back some control over what content you receive. If you are overwhelmed by social media’s effects on your life and business, then enter the Business Lab and take a listen to today’s episode.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- How social media influences our daily lives (02:27)
- What kind of world are you creating with your social media? (05:30)
- Your thoughts will be amplified and influenced by what you read (07:55)
- Conversations need to be authentic and aligned with your values (11:43)
- What are your values? (13:11)
- Do the people around you and you connect with and share similar values? (14:30)
- Include social media in your 2020 review and 2021 plans (17:36)
- Social media is just a tool for engagement (19:05)
November 5, 2020
Did you know that the average Australian business owner makes less in a year than an employee earning minimum wage?
As a business owner, you should know that your business revolves around people paying for your product or service. You need money to come in so your business can continue to trade. Despite being an essential component of any business, however, some entrepreneurs rarely discuss or even avoid the subject of pricing.
In this episode, Samantha and Tim tackle this highly important topic. They discuss why you need to increase your prices, how to analyse your finances, and what exercises you can do to arrive at your ideal pricing.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Your business revolves around charging out your product or service (02:13)
- Why increase your prices? (02:50)
- A reverse engineering exercise to arrive at your ideal pricing (03:20)
- The average business owner in Australia withdraws just $44,000/year (04:18)
- A spreadsheet of expenses and fees vs. pricing (06:09)
- Add in your ideal life and plans (08:20)
- Do the exercise regularly (10:07)
- Hidden costs of services (10:57)
- Would you double your prices today even if you lose half of your clients? (12:25)
- Look at the supply and demand (13:33)
- If you could 10X your price tomorrow, what would you need to change? (16:13)
- It’s normal to be nervous when increasing your prices (16:54)
- Know the value you bring to the table (17:05)
- There are different perspectives about the value of a product or service (18:28)
- Things to put in place to work around pricing (20:37)
- Address your mindset about pricing (22:24)
- “Expensive” is relative (23:13)
- A tip for fixed-price projects (23:58)
- You may have money blocks (25:26)
- A challenge to you regarding your pricing (26:30)
October 29, 2020
Growing and scaling your business entails a lot of hard work and dedication and with all the moving parts in your business, this can often bring up a lot of questions.
In this episode, we answer your questions regarding growing your business, and the systems and processes within your business.
From personal branding, to niching down to the importance of a sales pipeline, we delve into all of these topics in today’s episode.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Personal branding and making connections (2:34)
- Having a clear definition of who you serve (3:20)
- Niching down (4:48)
- Being authentic (7:15)
- Acknowledging your personal values (7:30)
- Knowing what you don’t align with (7:45)
- Being consistent (8:12)
- Using a content calendar for consistency (10:38)
- Managing your pipeline of opportunities (12:47)
- Deciding when you need a system (13:26)
- Sales pipeline (14:12)
- Sales are the lifeline of your business (17:30)
October 22, 2020
Running a business is a huge undertaking and requires shouldering major responsibility and managing resources efficiently.
Investing in productivity for your business can be a tricky balance. There are tools and professionals out there that can give you a helping hand in order to improve the productivity in your business and move the needle forward.
In this episode, we delve into the non-essentials that you should invest in for your business productivity and growth.
Remember that your business is your livelihood and you need to take it seriously. If you treat it like a hobby, your results will mirror your actions.
October 15, 2020
Don’t cancel the year that woke you up.
We have less than 90 days before 2021 begins. Have you started planning for the new year ahead?
2020 has been a crazy year and the pandemic has exposed the different strengths and weaknesses of businesses, but has also created massive opportunities. With no end to the pandemic in the near future, we still need to plan for the year ahead.
Smart business leaders know that now is the time to seize the opportunity to develop a business plan for 2021.
In this episode, we delve into how you can finish the year strong and understand what and where to focus when planning for the next year.
Have you started your plans for 2021?
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Getting into planning mode (1:45)
- What do you want 2021 to look like? (2:00)
- 2021 planning process (3:09)
- Blending finishing 2020 and starting 2021 (3:25)
- Backward reflection is as important as looking forward (3:48)
- Fundamentals needed in your business (5:22)
- Your business is here to solve customers’ problems (5:37)
- Don’t cancel the year that woke you up (5:57)
- How can your vision take as many people to their vision as possible? (6:40)
- You need a plan in place to be able to make a pivot (7:44)
- Mapping things on your lifestyle and then your monetary goal (7:50)
- Know what lifestyle you want first (8:30)
- Reverse engineering to achieve your goals (9:50)
- Take a look at your programs and pricing (10:27)
- Focusing on your marketing and sales (14:10)
- Marketing is not a quick thing (15:15)
- Sales are the lifeblood of your business (16:35)
- Aligning your 2021 goals with your 2020 plans (18:50)
- A business doesn’t sleep (20:29)
- The more you understand your customer, the more you can create solutions for them (24:00)
- Consistency for the win (27:10)
- Showing up doesn’t mean being busy and hustling (27:35)
- Showing up means being consistent (28:26)