Business Brain Food

It really is vital that companies today embrace the many benefits of being on the cloud. The days of the dusty server room should be long gone, and yet many companies are still holding off taking the plunge.

This week’s guest will tell you all you need to know if you’re thinking about making the transition. Frank Debenedetto is a highly experienced operator in the field, having helped companies migrate their server space over the course of two decades. He knows firsthand just how exposed a company’s on-site systems can be, having worked with clients in his native New Jersey who lost absolutely everything as a result of an earthquake. Keep reading for a summary of what Frank covered with Ben:

** Cloud services allow for a pay-as-you-go model of payment, rather than large capital expenditure. This enables companies to access newer technology more quickly than in the past, because the size of the outlay is not as great.

** Approximately 75% of businesses are still reliant on onsite services – this really needs to change. The cost of properly securing services onsite far outweighs the costs of security on the cloud, and backup is also far easier on the cloud.

** “Software as a service” has pretty much revolutionized the way most companies do business. If you’re still installing things on individual machines using a disc, you’re probably stuck in the dark ages!

** You’re never too small for the cloud. It can help even the smallest of companies, and can be easily scaled up as you grow.

** Take your backups seriously. If you move to the cloud, make sure that you know exactly what backup facilities are offered by your provider.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The advantages of the cloud

** The ins and outs of cyber security

** Email encryption

** Mobile device management

** Two-factor authentication

** Ransomware

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Free business assessment with Ben: http://www.businessassessment.com.au

** Frank’s company website: http://www.tworivertech.com

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

Get with the program and get on the cloud! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000


You may have slaved over your business plan and every aspect of your day-to-day, but have you properly considered how exposed you might be to copyright violation? This can work both ways. Maybe your web-builder built your site using illegal images, or maybe somebody else ripped off your content. With either scenario, the consequences can be extremely costly, so that’s why we’ve invited Lin Eleoff onto this week’s show.

Lin’s background is an interesting one, having originally started out as a lawyer who then became a full-time life coach. She now uses her legal background to advise businesses about how to cover themselves, and has multiple companies across life coaching and legal services. Lin kindly shared a lot of valuable advice, so see below for the highlights:

** The first company to register a company name has the right to keep it.

** Be careful of the term ‘royalty free’. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you can use the image for free – it just means that the price of an image doesn’t increase if it is used multiple times.

** If you receive a letter pursuing you for copyright infringement, check the detail of it to make sure it isn’t a scam, i.e. find proof that the person pursuing you is indeed the legal owner of the asset they are pursuing you about.

** If your own company website is infringing copyright laws but you didn’t know about it, you – as the business owner – are still responsible. Always double-check the work of your site builders/content managers.

** Registering a trademark doesn’t automatically mean that you can forget about the issue. It’s still up to you to find instances of infringement and then pursue the offenders.

** Before you pay for legal action against a website that is wrongly using your assets, contact the site’s hosting ISP and ask them to take it down.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The definition of ‘Royalty Free’

** Zero creative commons licenses explained

** The consequences of copying and pasting content

** DMCA takedown notices

** The difference between TM and (R)

** How to react when there is a case against you

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Ben’s photography website: http://www.onthreelegs.com

** Ben’s recommended stock photo library: https://graphicriver.net/

** Lin’s Gutsy Glorious Life-coaching Radio: link here

** Lin’s DIY Legal Toolkit: http://www.diylegaltoolkit.com

** Lin’s person site: http://www.coveryourassetsonline.com

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

According to Lin, if you use the DIY Legal Toolkit, you can achieve nearly all of the cover you need without having to pay for legal advice. Don’t delay – get your house in order! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF109_Cover_Your_ASSets_Online_with_Lin_Eleoff.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Back by very popular demand we have Siimon Reynolds for his third stint on the BBF podcast. Siimon will be talking to us about all things marketing, and there really is no one better qualified for the task.

Siimon is still famous for being the brains behind the legendary “Grim Reaper” anti-AIDS campaign in Australia in 1987. From there he cofounded the Photon Group, which grew into a global empire containing 6,000 employees in 52 different locations across 14 different countries. Siimon then left the Photon Group and set up the Fortune Institute which is dedicated to helping SMEs fulfill their potential. See below for some of the great marketing advice that Siimon gave, and a snapshot of the subjects he covered with Ben during the show:

** Sometimes market leaders are not the companies with the best product – they are the companies with the best marketing.

** Anyone can learn marketing, but it is such a long process to become an expert that it basically isn’t worth it for most people. The best thing is to learn the basics with a view to using that knowledge to effectively manage an external marketing expert.

** Before any marketing campaign, it’s a good idea to work in the following order: 1. Think about your target audience. 2. Tailor the message. 3. Define how to deliver the message.

** Remember that it’s a lot easier to get customers who have already said ‘yes’ to you to say ‘yes’ again, than it is to attract new customers.

** If you aren’t sure an advert is working then it probably isn’t – it’s time to stop. But don’t stop an advert and reject the medium of advertising. It’s more likely to be your ad rather than the medium that is the problem.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** What makes an effective marketing campaign

** How Dominoes revolutionized their entire marketplace with a simple marketing ploy

** The power of surveys

** Digital marketing target methods

** The importance of message V audience

** Split testing

** How long you should spend on social media

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Ben’s free business plan template: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au

** Siimon’s own site: http://www.siimonreynolds.com

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

Siimon is a shining example of what can be achieved with good marketing. If you follow his simple strategies you will give your business every chance to flourish. Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF108_How_to_create_an_effective_marketing_campaign_with_Siimon_Reynolds.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

This week’s guest has certainly lived a bit, and what a privilege it was to hear his sharp philosophical insight into the importance of ‘why’ in business. Peter Docker has been all over the world as a pilot for the RAF (he even used to fly the UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher), not to mention work as a crisis manager and an international negotiator for the UK government.

All of this experience has helped him become a highly respected motivational speaker, and as you’ll hear from his discussion with Ben, he’s an absolute master at helping people understand the ‘why’ in business. Read on for some of the highlights of the discussion:

** If you have any aspiration of being a successful business in the long term, you have to know your ‘why’. When you get this clear, it’s amazing how much easier it is for people to connect with your business.

** When we make decisions that just ‘feel right’, the chances are is that we’re feeling the ‘why’.

** A ‘why’ should be strong enough to compel your customers to put it into their own words.

** A ‘why’ doesn’t have to be big and grand – it just has to be authentic. This is how you build trust and loyalty.

** Your ‘why’ shouldn’t just come out of thin air. It should be a culmination of your past and what drives you.

** A ‘why’ is vital to get you through tough times. Without it, where is the incentive to get out of bed and solve problems?

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** Which part of the brain processes the ‘why’.

** What a ‘why discovery’ can do.

** The difference between ‘visions’ and ‘missions’.

** Where ‘how’ comes into it.

** How to come up with your ‘why’.

** How physical symbols and statements can help reinforce your ‘why’.

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Free, complimentary business assessment from Ben: http://www.businessassessment.com.au

** Elon Musk’s launch of model 3 of the Tesla, discussing his ‘why’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HOhOeKwe30

** Simon Sinek’s ‘Why’ programme: com

** Peter & Simon’s 2017 tour of Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland: Book here

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** ActionCOACH: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

It’s all very well concentrating on the detail of your everyday business, but if you don’t understand why you’re doing business in the first place, you’ve got almost no chance of success. Listen to Peter! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF107_Harness_the_Power_of_Why_with_Peter_Docker.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

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