SoTellUs Time

Trevor Howard: Business Marketing Expert
SoTellUs Time

SoTellUs Time is a podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs wanting to learn how to grow their business from the basics all the way to the advanced from the latest technics and technologies. Together the hosts of SoTellUs Time have over 40 years of marketing experience from start ups to $100,000,000 companies. They have started several successful 7 figure companies and advised thousands of companies in 19 countries generating hundreds of millions in revenue.

  1. SEP 24

    Know Your Value: How to Stop Profit Loss

    In today’s video, we are diving deep into a critical topic that can make or break your business: Knowing Your Value. If you’re a business owner who constantly feels like you’re going above and beyond for your customers without seeing a fair return, this video is for you. One of the biggest profit killers in any business is failing to set clear pricing for additional services or work. Today, we’ll explore why this happens, how it impacts your bottom line, and what you can do to ensure you're compensated for every extra mile you go. Customer service is king, and we all want happy customers, but there’s a catch: If you’re not careful, you could find yourself out of business while trying to please everyone. This video will share real-world insights, including the story of a cleaner who faces this very dilemma. The Cleaner’s Story: Customizations Gone Wrong Imagine you’re a cleaner, and you’ve built a good relationship with your client. One day, they ask for some extra customizations—maybe an additional room to clean or a deeper clean in specific areas. You oblige because you want them to be happy. They’re thrilled and pay the bill, but next time, they ask for a little more. And then a little more. Soon, these customizations become the norm, and the client expects them at no extra cost. What started as excellent customer service has now turned into an expectation of free. And this can happen in any industry. You think you're building loyalty, but you’re also building a profit-sapping pattern. The Pros and Cons of Saying Yes While making your client happy is great, if you’re not charging for extra work, here’s the reality: Pros: Your client is happy. They pay their bill. Cons: You’ve created an expectation of free work. Profits quickly disappear with each additional request. Your team and yourself will get burned out from over-delivering without compensation. The Reality of the Needy Customer In my 25+ years in business, I’ve seen this happen time and time again. The clients who are the neediest and most demanding are usually: Not profitable, Not loyal, and Rarely satisfied. These customers drain your resources, morale, and profits. The longer you keep these clients around, the worse it gets. The Solution: Know Your Value and Charge for It Here’s how you can protect your profits and sanity: Set your services and pricing in stone—no exceptions. Stick to your pricing—don’t cave under pressure to offer freebies. Set expectations upfront—extras cost extra. Build additional services into packages—this way, clients know that premium services come with premium pricing. Fire needy and cheap clients—they will never be profitable or loyal. Don’t be afraid to cut them loose. Homework: Take Action This week, put together a plan that ensures you’re getting paid for all of your services moving forward. Review your current client base—if you have a needy, price-haggling client, it might be time to let them go. Remember, you deserve to be compensated for your hard work. It’s time to value your services, stop giving away free work, and create a business model that ensures profit with every client. Make sure to subscribe for more business tips and strategies on growing a profitable business without burning out! Keywords: business growth tips, knowing your value, pricing strategy, customer service, profit killers, avoid burnout in business, setting clear pricing, how to stop losing money, needy customers, managing difficult clients, business strategy, how to increase profits, business profitability, extra services pricing, setting client expectations, business tips for entrepreneurs.

    20 min
  2. SEP 10

    Content is King: Creating Local SEO-Friendly Content P. 3

    Welcome back to our Local SEO training series! In today's episode, we're diving into Part 3, where we'll be focusing on how to create Local SEO-friendly content. If you want your website to rank higher on Google and attract more local customers, then this is the episode for you. We’ll cover why content is crucial for your local SEO strategy, the types of content you should be creating, and actionable tips on how to get Google to index and rank your content effectively. Let’s get started! Why is Content Important for Local SEO? Content is the backbone of your SEO strategy. Google’s primary job is to deliver the latest and most relevant content when someone performs a search. This means that your content is your ticket to showing Google which search terms your website should rank for on the first page. Google constantly searches the web for new content, which is why it's essential to keep your website updated with fresh, high-quality content. By creating SEO-friendly content, you not only inform your audience but also signal to Google that your site deserves to be seen. Types of Content You Should Create Wondering what kind of content will help boost your local SEO? Here are some top recommendations: Videos: Video content is highly engaging and can be a great way to showcase your services or answer common questions your customers have. Service + Location Pages: Create dedicated pages for each of the services you offer in different locations. This helps Google understand exactly what services you provide and where you provide them. Articles and Blogs: Regularly publishing articles or blog posts on relevant topics is an excellent way to keep your website updated and give Google more content to index. How to Get Google to Index Your Content Getting Google to notice your content isn’t automatic—you need to take specific steps to make it happen. Here’s how: Create More Content: The more content you have, the more opportunities you have to rank for different search terms. Consistency is Key: Publishing content consistently teaches Google to come back to your site more often. Share Your Content: Distribute your content on social media platforms to drive traffic and signal to Google that your content is valuable. Make Your Content Easy to Understand: Use clear keywords and phrases to help Google determine what your content should rank for. How to Make Your Content Easy for Google to Rank When creating content, keep it focused and specific. Here are some tips: Focus on One Keyword Phrase: Each piece of content should target a specific keyword phrase to avoid confusion and dilution of relevance. Target One City or Location: For local SEO, make sure to include location-specific information in each piece of content. Use Keywords Naturally: Incorporate your keyword and location naturally within the content, typically 3-5 times, depending on the length. Internal Linking: Link to other relevant pages on your site to keep users engaged and help Google understand your site's structure. How Often Should You Post Content? At a minimum, you should add new content to your website monthly, but to see the best results, consider publishing weekly. Our most successful clients publish new content 4-5 times per week, keeping their websites fresh and relevant. Homework: Take Action! Now, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice. Review your website and identify at least one new way to add fresh content. Whether it's a new blog post, video, or service page, start creating today and watch your local SEO improve! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode if you found it helpful! Stay tuned for the next episode in our Local SEO training series, where we’ll dive deeper into optimizing your content for even better results.

    22 min
  3. AUG 27

    Campaign Mania: Automate Communications to Boost Sales

    Welcome to "Campaign Mania," where we dive deep into the world of campaigns and how they can transform your business communications into tangible sales. If you're like most business owners, you know that regular communication with your clients and potential clients is crucial, but it often falls by the wayside as you juggle the many demands of running a business. In this video, we’ll explore how to turn those missed opportunities into new sales by setting up automated campaigns. Today, we sat down with a client who, in just 60 minutes, shared several brilliant ideas for reaching out to his clients and potential clients. Unfortunately, like many of us, he hadn’t gotten around to actually sending those emails or SMS messages. That’s where campaigns come in. Whether it’s reminding your existing clients about all the services you offer or notifying potential clients of special offers, campaigns can keep your business top of mind without you having to lift a finger. We’ll walk you through different campaign ideas that can boost your sales. Imagine a campaign that reminds your existing clients about your referral program. Or how about quarterly check-ins that keep both existing and potential clients engaged? Seasonal offers are another great way to capture attention at key times of the year. The possibilities are endless, but the key is to set up these campaigns so they can run automatically. Automation is the secret sauce in today’s fast-paced business world. When you automate your campaigns, whether it’s emails, SMS, or other forms of communication, you free up valuable time to focus on growing your business. You’re no longer tied to the manual task of sending one-off messages; instead, you’ve got a system in place that works for you around the clock. As we discuss in "Campaign Mania," setting up these campaigns doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Start with one simple campaign this week—whether it’s a special offer for potential clients or a reminder to existing clients about your latest services—and get it up and running. If you don’t have an automated system in place, now is the time to implement one. Remember, the goal of "Campaign Mania" is not just to talk about campaigns but to help you implement them effectively. Your homework is to come up with one campaign idea that you can start this week. Set it up, automate it, and watch how it transforms your business communications into sales. Don't miss out on the opportunities that campaigns can bring to your business. Subscribe for more insights on how to leverage campaigns, stay ahead of the competition, and turn potential clients into loyal customers. Let "Campaign Mania" be your guide to mastering the art of automated communications for lasting business success.     #CampaignMania #Campaigns #Clients #PotentialClients #Sales #Communications #Emails #SMS #Business #Automate #Offers #ReferralProgram #SeasonalOffers #QuarterlyCheckIns #Remind #SpecialOffers #SetUp #ExistingClients #Homework #Implement

    15 min
  4. AUG 20

    Business is Built on Problems: How to Position Your Business as the Solution

    Welcome to today's episode where we dive into one of the most fundamental truths of business: the best businesses are built on solving problems. Whether you're an entrepreneur starting out or a seasoned business owner looking to refine your strategy, understanding how to position your business as the solution your potential customers are seeking is crucial for long-term success. In this video, we'll break down the essential steps to identify, understand, and market a problem, ensuring your business not only addresses real needs but also communicates its value effectively to your target audience. Step 1: Identify the Problem The foundation of any successful business lies in identifying a problem that truly needs to be solved. But not just any problem will do—you need to pinpoint one that affects a significant number of people to create a sustainable business model. The problem should be compelling enough that the benefits of solving it far outweigh the costs. Take, for example, the concept of Million Mile Tires. Imagine the impact and demand if tires could last a million miles, eliminating the frequent need for replacements and offering tremendous value to customers. This is the kind of problem-solving that lays the groundwork for a thriving business. Step 2: Understand the Problem Once you've identified a potential problem, the next step is to understand it thoroughly. Can you clearly and simply articulate what the problem is? More importantly, will the general public recognize your product or service as the solution? This step is crucial because if people don't see the value in what you're offering, even the best products can fail. Consider the success of Squatty Potty, a simple yet effective product that addresses a common but often unspoken issue. The key to their success was their ability to communicate the problem in a way that resonated with a wide audience. Step 3: Market the Problem Now that you've identified and understood the problem, it's time to market it effectively. The focus should be on the pain points—bring up the problem and remind your audience of the discomfort or inconvenience it causes. Then, paint a vivid picture of what life could be like after the problem is solved. This is where empathy becomes a powerful tool. By showing that you understand their pain and are genuinely here to help, you can build trust with your audience. Share your story: why did you start this business? Because you wanted to help people just like them. Use social proof to further solidify your solution's effectiveness. Case studies, reviews, and videos are all powerful tools to show potential customers that others have successfully overcome the same problem with your help. This not only builds credibility but also reassures them that they're making the right choice. Homework: Ready to take action? Identify the biggest pain point your potential clients face and create at least one marketing strategy centered around that pain point. Remember, the more you can connect with your audience's struggles and offer them a clear, effective solution, the more your business will thrive. Conclusion: Building a successful business is all about problem-solving. By identifying, understanding, and marketing a problem effectively, you can position your business as the go-to solution for your target market. Don't forget to subscribe for more insights and strategies to help your business grow, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an update. Let's turn those problems into opportunities for success!   #BusinessStrategy #ProblemSolving #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #CustomerPainPoints #BusinessTips #MarketPositioning #SuccessMindset #BusinessSolutions #SmallBusiness #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerFocus #BrandStrategy #ProblemBasedBusiness #MarketingTips #StartupSuccess

    24 min
  5. AUG 13

    Boost Your Local SEO: Optimize Your Google Business Listing (Local SEO Pt. 2)

    Welcome to Part 2 of our "Master Local SEO" series! 🚀 In today's video, we dive deep into optimizing your Google Business Listing, a crucial step in boosting your local search rankings and standing out on Google Maps.  In this video, you'll learn: 1. Claim and Verify Your Listing:    - Why it's essential to claim and secure your Google Business Listing.      - How to ensure multiple people in your business can access and manage the listing. 2. Complete Every Detail:    - The importance of filling out every section of your listing: Name, address, phone number, email, hours, services, categories, and a well-crafted description (without keyword stuffing). 3. Upload High-Quality Photos and Videos:    - Tips for uploading professional images and videos.      - How to name your files with relevant keywords and locations, like "Best Mover in Mesa AZ," for maximum SEO impact. 4. Get and Manage Reviews:    - The power of accumulating positive reviews.      - Best practices for consistently getting reviews and responding to them. 5. Leverage GMB Posts:    - How to use Google My Business posts as free advertising.      - Ideas for sharing special offers and images to engage potential customers. Homework: Take 30 minutes this week to optimize your Google My Business Listing with the tips shared in this video. Your efforts could significantly improve your local search visibility! If you found this video helpful, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss out on the next part of our "Master Local SEO" series. 💡 #LocalSEO #GoogleMyBusiness #SEOtips #SmallBusiness #DigitalMarketing #LocalSearch #SEOstrategies #GMBOptimization #GoogleMapsSEO #SEOforSmallBusiness

    16 min
  6. AUG 6

    Master Local SEO: Top Tips for Ranking Higher

    Welcome to our latest video in our SEO Tips series: "Master Local SEO: Top Tips for Ranking Higher." We've been receiving numerous requests from our listeners asking for guidance on SEO, so we've decided to launch a series of helpful tips specifically for local businesses. Over the next few months, we'll be sharing valuable insights to help you boost your local search rankings. In this episode, we're focusing on a crucial aspect of local SEO: Building Citations. What is a Citation? A citation is essentially a mention of your business and its information on local websites, such as directories. These listings can be found on various online platforms, including Yelp, Yellow Pages, and local chamber of commerce websites. Why are Citations Important? Citations play a significant role in Google’s local search algorithms. Google indexes all these online directories and cross-references the information they find about local businesses. Consistent and accurate citations help build trust and authority for your business in Google's eyes, leading to higher local search rankings. On the flip side, inconsistent or missing information can negatively impact your local SEO efforts. Key Information for Citations When it comes to citations, the most critical pieces of information are: Business Name Address Phone Number These elements are often referred to as NAP (Name, Address, Phone). However, Google is also starting to consider other details like hours of operation, business categories, and more. How to Check Your Citations You don't have to manually visit every directory to check your citations. There are tools and services available that can scan your local listings and identify any discrepancies or missing information. If you need assistance, reach out to us for a free scan to see how your business is listed across various directories. Fixing Issues with Your Citations If you discover issues with your citations or find that your business isn't listed in some directories, you have two main options: Manually Create and Update Accounts: You can create accounts on each directory site and update your business information manually. This approach can be time-consuming but gives you direct control over your listings. Use a Citation Management Service: There are systems and services designed to fix your listings and monitor them continuously. These services can save you time and ensure that your citations remain consistent and up-to-date. Homework For this week, we have a simple yet impactful homework assignment for you: Take a look at your local listings and identify any issues. If you need a free scan, let us know, and we can run one for you. Spend some time this week fixing any discrepancies in your citations. By ensuring your business information is consistent across all online directories, you'll improve your local search rankings and make it easier for potential customers to find you. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more SEO tips and tricks. Hit the notification bell so you won't miss any of our upcoming episodes in this series. If you found this video helpful, share it with other local business owners who might benefit from these tips. Thanks for watching, and good luck with your local SEO efforts!

    15 min
  7. JUL 23

    Team First or Business First: The Growth Debate

    Today, we tackle an age-old question with a modern business twist: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? 🐣🐔 In today's episode, we dive into the ultimate debate of whether to focus on building a team first or generating business first. Join us as we share essential tips on transitioning from an owner-operator to building your dream team. Transitioning from an owner-operator to a team-oriented business model can be challenging. The question of whether to prioritize team building or business growth is crucial. In this video, we'll provide insights to help you decide the best approach for your unique situation. Many entrepreneurs start as owner-operators, wearing multiple hats and handling all aspects of their business. While this hands-on approach can be effective initially, it often leads to burnout and limits growth potential. Transitioning to a team-based model can significantly boost your business growth and overall success. In this video, we explore the benefits of focusing on team building first. A strong, well-rounded team can bring diverse skills and perspectives, allowing you to delegate tasks and focus on strategic growth. Building a team first also ensures that you have the necessary support to handle increased business demands. On the other hand, generating business first can provide the financial resources needed to hire and sustain a team. By prioritizing business growth, you can create a stable foundation before expanding your team. This approach can help you avoid the pitfalls of overextending your resources and ensure that your business can support a growing team. Throughout the video, we'll provide practical tips for both approaches, helping you make an informed decision. We'll discuss the importance of clear communication, effective delegation, and setting realistic expectations. Additionally, we'll cover strategies for identifying and attracting top talent, fostering a positive work culture, and creating systems that support scalability. Ready to level up your business? Let’s get started! Whether you choose to focus on building a team first or generating business first, the key is to find the balance that works best for you. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and your approach may evolve as your business grows. Join us as we dive into this critical debate and provide actionable tips for transitioning from an owner-operator to a team-oriented business model. By the end of this video, you'll have a clearer understanding of the pros and cons of each approach and be equipped with the knowledge to make the best decision for your business. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more valuable content on business growth, team building, and entrepreneur tips. Share your thoughts on whether you believe in building a team first or generating business first in the comments below. We love hearing from you and learning about your experiences. Thank you for watching! 🚀 We hope you find this video helpful and inspiring as you navigate the exciting journey of business growth and team building. 💼👥 #BusinessGrowth #TeamBuilding #EntrepreneurTips

    22 min
4.3
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

SoTellUs Time is a podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs wanting to learn how to grow their business from the basics all the way to the advanced from the latest technics and technologies. Together the hosts of SoTellUs Time have over 40 years of marketing experience from start ups to $100,000,000 companies. They have started several successful 7 figure companies and advised thousands of companies in 19 countries generating hundreds of millions in revenue.

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