Kelly's Tech Lounge

Kelly Reynolds Socials

Kelly's Tech Lounge: The podcast for children's activity providers who want to simplify the tech, master their marketing and grow a business around family life.  I’m Kelly Reynolds, and every week I’ll be sharing simple, practical advice to help you grow your business without adding more hours to your day. From social media and content creation to email marketing, tech, mindset and practical how-tos, each episode is packed with easy-to-follow tips you can put into action straight away. No jargon, no overwhelm, just realistic strategies designed for busy business owners juggling classes, customers and family life. Whether you’re looking to fill more classes, simplify your systems, build your online presence or finally get to grips with the tech behind your business, you’ll find honest conversations and practical support to help you move forward with confidence. So grab a cuppa, pop your headphones in and join me.

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 18: Class Business Live and the Class Business Awards: What I Took Away and My Journey to Becoming a Sponsor

    This weekend I was at Class Business Live and the Class Business Awards, hosted by Krissy Monaghan at the NCC in Birmingham. It was an amazing day, with brilliant speakers, plenty to put into action straight away, and an energy in the room I’m still thinking about.  In this episode, I share:  What I took away from the day, and why so many people who could be seen as competitors ended up cheering each other onMy journey from presenting at a small strategy day last November to hosting a mastermind table and sponsoring Team-Led Business of the YearWhy I almost talked myself out of becoming a sponsor because I didn’t feel readyWhat we talked about at my mastermind table, from bringing people onto your email list to using AI to save time, and how often you really need to follow upMy tip for making sense of your event notes before they go cold, so they turn into a plan you actually use Key takeaway: you don’t have to feel ready before you say yes. A year ago, standing on a stage wasn’t even on my radar.   This is part one. Next week, I’m sharing how I prepared for walking up on stage and how it really felt.   Have a listen for my full story and what I’m taking into the year ahead. Want to fill more classes? Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents. Want to know where you’re at with email marketing? Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next. 👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

  2. Oct 6

    Episode 17: The Easy Way to Create a Welcome Email Sequence (Even If You're Not Techie)

    If you've ever thought email marketing was too complicated, this episode is for you. A welcome email sequence is one of the easiest ways to start building trust and connection with your audience, even while you're running classes, replying to messages, or dashing between school runs. In this episode, I cover: •What a welcome email sequence actually is, and why it's simply your business saying "hi, lovely to meet you" without you lifting a finger •Why it matters so much, since interest is highest the moment someone signs up, and a good sequence catches them before they forget to book •My 6 simple steps to setting it up with no tech overwhelm, from choosing a platform through to testing it properly •What to include in each of 4 emails, from delivering your freebie instantly through to inviting them to book •A worked example for a baby sensory class, showing exactly how this could look for your own business •My pro tips for keeping it simple, conversational, and warm Key takeaway: once it's set up, it runs quietly in the background, helping new families feel connected and ready to book before you've even met them. That's smart, simple marketing for busy children's activity providers. Have a listen for the full step-by-step breakdown. Want to fill more classes? Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents. Want to know where you’re at with email marketing? Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next. 👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

  3. Sep 29

    Episode 16 - Why I've Stopped Recommending ManyChat (And What to Try Instead)

    This episode wasn't meant to happen. I'd planned a completely different one, all about ManyChat and how to automate comment-to-DM on Instagram, complete with my affiliate link. But after using it myself for over 12 months, and with several of my clients too, I've changed my mind, and I think it's only fair to tell you why. In this episode, I cover: •Why comment-to-DM automation works brilliantly for big accounts with thousands of followers, but often isn't worth it for smaller, class-based businesses like ours •How pricing has changed, with charges now based on contacts across every connected platform (Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp all counted separately) •Meta's new restriction limiting Facebook posts to 2 links a month •What I'm considering instead, including Meta One, Meta's newly launched business subscription for AI-powered replies, plus small targeted ads •Why email marketing is still the one channel Meta can't restrict or charge more to reach •Practical ways to grow your email list without relying on comment automation, including freebies, QR codes at classes, and teaming up with other local businesses Key takeaway: no tool is one-size-fits-all, and what works for big brands doesn't always work for small local businesses. Social media is brilliant for visibility, but your email list is where the real relationships happen. Want to fill more classes? Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents. Want to know where you’re at with email marketing? Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next. 👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

  4. Sep 15

    Episode 14 - How to create a weeks worth of content from one idea

    Running a children's activity business is rewarding, but juggling sessions, families, bookings and social media all at once can feel relentless. The good news is you don't need a brand new idea every single day. With the right strategy, one piece of content can fill your whole week. In this episode, I walk you through: •Starting with one core piece of content, like a blog post, a class video clip, or a parent testimonial •Breaking it down into bite-sized posts, including quote posts, quick tip reels and photo posts •Adding behind-the-scenes content to build personality and trust •Creating engagement posts that invite parents into the conversation, rather than just talking at them •Repurposing the same idea across different formats and platforms, since not everyone sees everything you post •A simple example of how to map out your week, Monday to weekend, from just one idea •Why you still need to actually ask people to book, even with great content Key takeaway: you only need one good idea to fill your week. It's not about creating more, it's about using what you've already got more strategically. Have a listen for the full breakdown and steal Kelly's weekly content flow for yourself. Want to fill more classes? Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents. Want to know where you’re at with email marketing? Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next. 👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

  5. Sep 8

    Episode 13 - How To Create A Lead Magnet That Builds Trust

    Following on from last week’s episode on funnels and freebies, this episode goes a bit deeper… how to actually create one that attracts your ideal customer and builds trust, rather than pushing people away. You’ve probably come across it yourself online… “take this free quiz” or “download this free checklist,” only to find the actual results or resource are locked behind a paywall. It feels frustrating, and for children’s activity providers, where trust is everything, it can do real damage. In this episode, I cover: •What makes a freebie genuinely ethical (you promise something, and you deliver exactly that, for free) •Why the “promise free, then paywall” approach backfires, including unsubscribes and lost trust •Side-by-side examples of manipulative vs ethical freebies, including quiz results and meal plans •5 simple steps to creating a freebie with integrity: being clear in your promise, giving a quick win, connecting naturally to your paid offer, respecting people’s inboxes, and thinking long term •Why this matters especially for children’s activity providers, whose audience is often already cautious online Key takeaway: a good freebie should attract the right people to you, not push them away. Ask yourself, will they walk away with value even if they never buy from you? If yes, you’ve got it right. Have a listen for the full breakdown, and some practical examples you can apply straight away. Want to fill more classes? Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents. Want to know where you’re at with email marketing? Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next. 👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

  6. Sep 1

    Episode 12: What’s a Funnel and a Lead Magnet (And Why Does Your Business Need Them?)

    Funnels and lead magnets… you’ve probably heard everyone talking about them, but if you’ve got no idea what they actually mean, you’re not alone. The good news is they’re much simpler than they sound, and once you get your head round them, they can save you time, grow your audience and bring in customers without you ever feeling pushy. In this episode, Kelly breaks down: •What a lead magnet actually is (hint: it’s just a little gift in exchange for someone’s email address) •What a funnel is, explained simply as the journey from someone finding you to trusting you to buying from you •Why this matters for children’s activity providers specifically, so you’re not relying on the algorithm to be seen •A simple way to get started: picking your lead magnet, setting up delivery, writing a short welcome sequence and sharing your link •A everyday example you’ve probably experienced yourself (that discount code at the checkout) Key takeaway: a funnel isn’t some big complicated system, it’s just a friendly pathway that takes someone from “I like what she’s saying” to “I want to work with her.” Have a listen and let this be the episode that finally makes funnels and lead magnets click. Want to fill more classes? Email marking is a great way to stay in touch with parents. Want to know where you’re at with email marketing? Take my free Email Marketing Quiz and find out what stage you’re at, what you might be missing, and where to focus next. 👉 Take the quiz here: https://online.kellyreynoldssocials.com/email-marketing-quiz If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a review. It really helps support the show.

About

Kelly's Tech Lounge: The podcast for children's activity providers who want to simplify the tech, master their marketing and grow a business around family life.  I’m Kelly Reynolds, and every week I’ll be sharing simple, practical advice to help you grow your business without adding more hours to your day. From social media and content creation to email marketing, tech, mindset and practical how-tos, each episode is packed with easy-to-follow tips you can put into action straight away. No jargon, no overwhelm, just realistic strategies designed for busy business owners juggling classes, customers and family life. Whether you’re looking to fill more classes, simplify your systems, build your online presence or finally get to grips with the tech behind your business, you’ll find honest conversations and practical support to help you move forward with confidence. So grab a cuppa, pop your headphones in and join me.