Business Brain Food (general)

Anyone who is part of a company of a certain size will understand the difficulties of the recruitment process. It simply isn’t automatic that a new recruit is going to fit in, and one key reason is because of the vast range of ages and generations that work under one roof. It’s perfectly common for a new employee to be working under somebody who is the same age as their parents, and while it is generally accepted that children and parents will see the world in a different way, employers often fall into the trap of expecting all generations to behave the same way in the workplace.

It was certainly a very interesting chat. See below for a sneak preview of some of the great advice Lee shared with us on how best to manage younger employees: As well as giving his incredible first-hand account of what happened on flight 1549 that day, Dave was kind enough to share with us some of the lessons he learnt from the incident that he has been applying to business and to life ever since:

** Outline company rules from the very beginning, ideally at the interview stage, i.e. working hours, social media policy etc.

** Again, from the earliest possible stage, clearly outline the prospects of career progression.

** In many cases, there is no such thing as ‘normal’. What one generation assumes as ‘normal’ could easily not be reflected by another generation.

** Accept that people are going to leave, sometimes after a relatively short time. Remember that there is a high value in having your employers leave on good terms.

The key thing to remember is that younger workers have grown up in an era where information is more readily available than it was to certain older generations. Therefore they expect a lot of feedback, and a lot of clarity on company policy. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** What ‘the millennial generation’ actually means

** How technology has shaped the perceptions of the millennial generation

** How the concept of ‘end of day’ is being challenged

** A reasonable expectation of staff loyalty and length of service today

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Sponsor the show: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au, put in subject line “interested in sponsoring BBF”

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

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

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  As Lee saliently pointed out, if your company doesn’t cater for younger employees then it doesn’t have much of a future… you simply cannot afford to dismiss the challenges that younger employees bring. Learn about how best to work with them, and take action! 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: BBF085_Managing_Multi_generation_teams_with_Lee_Caraher.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

This has to be one of the most extraordinary BBF episodes – it isn’t every day you get to speak to a survivor of a plane crash. Dave Sanderson was on the now infamous US Airways flight 1549 which was struck by a flock of Canada geese just moments after takeoff on January 15 2009. The pilot was forced to ditch the plane in the Hudson river. This quick thinking helped save all 155 people on board, but it was not the only quick thinking on the plane that day. Dave Sanderson was also lauded for his quick thinking during the rescue. As he was making for his nearest exit, he heard the voice of his late mother in his head, and proceeded to step up to lead the rescue effort for all the passengers on his side of the plane. He became the last person to be rescued from the scene, and has since used his experience to become an internationally renowned motivational speaker.

As well as giving his incredible first-hand account of what happened on flight 1549 that day, Dave was kind enough to share with us some of the lessons he learnt from the incident that he has been applying to business and to life ever since:  

** Think hard about how you manage your time. If you were faced with an impending tragedy, would you regret having not spent enough time with your family?

** Don’t take anything you learn for granted. You never know when you might need the knowledge to save yourself or someone else.

** Communicate with people in the way they are most comfortable, not the way you are most comfortable.

  Dave has written a book called ‘Moments Matter’ which outlines 12 different lessons like the above. His story is a great lesson of what can be achieved when people seize the moment. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** A first-hand account of the Hudson river crash

** The concept of post-traumatic growth syndrome

** How to help people out of a trance situation

** How to manage focus

** How an extreme situation can focus the mind

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** Dave’s site: (http://www.davesandersonspeaks.com)

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

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  Dave’s story is an unforgettable one. Listen to it in full and prepare to be inspired! 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: BBF084_Beyond_the_miracle_on_the_hudson_Dave_sanderson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Joshua Belanger is living proof of the power of email marketing. Originally a Wall Street options broker, he used email marketing to reinvent himself as an options-trading adviser to the public. He now has a big enough following to be regularly quoted by the likes of the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, while his own website Option Sizzle continues to go from strength to strength. Here are some of Joshua’s top tips:

** Don’t go overboard with bells and whistles. The more obstacles you remove from the process, the easier it is to maintain regular output.

** Most mass-email software is similar. Don’t waste too much time worrying which one is best.

** Leave people wanting more from your content so they become active rather than passive.

** Manage subscribers’ expectations from the very beginning, i.e. be honest with how often you will be sending them emails.

** Opt outs are not always a bad thing. Don’t allow your strategy to be driven by the need to avoid them.

** Repeat business is more easy than you think. If someone has bought once, don’t be afraid to try to sell to them again.

  Joshua’s strategy is unashamedly aggressive. He focuses on the simplicity of daily output over any concerns about offending his subscribers. To him, someone who unsubscribes would never have been a paying customer anyway, so any strategy should not concentrate on trying to placate these people too much.   In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The potential impact of capturing emails

** How to design a mailout

** How to properly understand your audience

** The pros and cons of free giveaways

** Average email open rates

** How to be entertaining in short form

** The optimum length of an email

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

** 8 recurring themes of leadership and culture: (http://actioncoachanz.com/8-recurring-themes-of-leadership-and-culture-lessons-i-learned-from-john-eales)

** Joshua Belanger’s site: (http://www.optionsizzle.com)

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

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@maxmyprofit.com.au

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

 

  Despite what some people might say, email marketing is still an immensely powerful tool, and for many companies can still be the most important part of the marketing mix. If you want to maximize the power of email marketing for your business, listen to Joshua! 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: BBF083_Simple_Daily_emails_double_sales_Joshua_Belanger.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

We’ve all heard of webinars, but how many of us actually know how to use them to make money for our business? This week’s guest Steven Essa certainly does – he travels around the world showing people how. Webinars can be useful for so much in the course of business, i.e. more sales, lead generation, increasing your own authority etc.; but like most people, Steven didn’t realise their value at first. He’d always struggled to write good sales copy so was always frustrated at the low quality of his online output, until one day he was completely inspired by the quality of a seminar he attended. He realised that if he simply projected his own personality online in the same way, he could make money online without the need for the conventions of sales copy and mailshots.

Steven was full of great detail about the art form when he spoke to BBF. Here’s a sneak preview of some of his insight:

** Webinars produce higher conversion rates than ‘conventional’ online marketing channels.

** The concept of seeing someone projected on a video can often actually qualify the speaker better than if you were to meet them in person.

** All webinars need a title that identifies a specific target market, and then a specific benefit.

** Break all webinars into pre-defined steps.

** Don’t sell during the main content of the presentation. Any calls to action must be at the end.

** Forget about branding. Plane ole black & white looks more believable and less salesy than a properly branded message.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The first steps towards getting started with webinars

** How a webinar can replace cold-call sales scripts

** How to find the perfect webinar title

** How to create the all-important Segway between impartial information and a sales pitch

** How to automate webinars

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Best place to host webinars (Gotowebinar.com)

** The Webinator Software (http://www.webinator.biz/)

** Steve’s website (http://www.stevenessar.com)

** Free, no-obligation business coaching chat with a member of Ben’s team: (http://actioncoachanz.com/free-business-coaching-session)

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

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  It really was astonishing to find out that conversion rates from webinars have been measured as approximately 10 TIMES higher than from mailshots. Those figures alone should be enough to convince you that Steven is worth listening to! 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: BBF082_Webinars_to_grow_your_Business.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Chris Gray has truly built an empire… an AUD 14m property empire to be precise! As a result he has gained great notoriety as a commentator on the marketplace… you may have seen him appearing on his fortnightly slot on Sky News called “Your Property Empire”. Perhaps what has made him so successful is his schooling beyond property. Chris is also qualified as an accountant and as a mortgage broker which has enabled him to see beyond the bricks and mortar. It is a great privilege to have such a great all-rounder on the show, so if you aren’t listening already, have a look at a few of these highlights from our chat:

** Buying property in capital cities is generally a safe bet.

** Second guessing a more ‘provincial’ property marketplace can offer high rewards, but also high losses.

** Do not underestimate the value of mortgage brokers.

** Refinance your portfolio regularly to ensure a consistent release of equity.

** Use zero emotion when investing.

** Remember that someone else can do all of the donkeywork for you.

  Beyond the above, Chris was very keen to point out that when you have multiple properties, paying off mortgage debt can often be pointless. Using spare equity to increase an asset base is generally more productive than paying off a mortgage, especially if you refinance regularly. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** How to raise finance to build a property portfolio quickly

** Differing attitudes to money across generations

** How best to reinvest equity

** The benefits of a “buyer’s agent”

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Podcast Addict app: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bambuna.podcastaddict&hl=en_GB)

** Smart Passive Income Podcast Tutorial: (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/how-to-start-a-podcast-podcasting-tutorial/)

** Cliff Ravenscroft: Podcast Answerman (http://podcastanswerman.com/learn-how-to-podcast/)

** Chris’ Website with free book (http://www.yourempire.com.au)

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

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  Chris’ story shows that you don’t necessarily need to be a slave to property day-to-day in order to earn a full-time living from it. His own company and many others like it specialize in doing the hard work to acquire and trade property, so you might be surprised at just what returns could be open to you in double-quick time if you shook off the fear and took the plunge… 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: BBF081_Effortlessly_build_your_property_Empire.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

This man is a serious legend in the world of human performance, so much so that Ben credits him as the person who inspired him to get where he is today. Having studied the art for a total of 43 years and having authored 40 self-development books, John is now revered as a world authority on the matter.

What makes John such a good guest is the practicality of his theory. He is not a generic ‘guru’ who simply deals in top-level philosophy – he distills everything in to day-to-day goals that we can all use for ourselves. BBF listeners will also be enthused by the fact that he succeeded in business before he became a human-performance expert; building up a chiropractor firm in double-quick time that made him the envy of the industry. If you still aren’t persuaded that you need to listen to the episode, have a look below for a summary of some of the advice he gave. Once you read that, you’re bound to give it a listen!

** Find out what really is valuable to you, not what other people decide is valuable

** If you please everybody on the outside, you’ll ultimately be displeased on the inside

** Your goals will be mere fantasy unless your values actually link properly to your goals

** It is possible to change your values

** When your values shift, you can better see new opportunities

** If you struggle to be motivated to do what you say is important, then it is probably not all that important to you at all

  What Dr John keeps going back to is the concept of aligning values with high-level goals. On paper this might sound like an obvious way of being a high achiever, but simply beING clear about both values and goals is not enough. The key is for the path between the two to be clear. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The 6 things common to wealthy people

** The “200 benefits” method

** The definition of ‘fear’

** The workings of the ‘executive centre’ of the brain

** The myths of depression

** The benefits of saying no

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

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

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Dr Demartini’s website, including the “Determine Your Values” exercise: (http://www.drdemartini.com)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  Dr Demartini’s methods are an important lesson in what is possible if you think laterally and are honest with yourself. Just because Bill Gates is a billionaire doesn’t mean that you actually need to be. You might be surprised at how much more achievable your goals suddenly become when you use Dr Demartini’s methods to properly align your values. 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: BBF080_Maximise_human_performance_with_DrJohn_Demartini.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Matt Holmes is so passionate about networking that he has become known as Matt “handshakin” Holmes. He even has a world record for the longest ever handshake, standing at the grand total of 46 hours! Matt first realised the power of networking when he landed a big contract as a result of his future employers seeing photos of him online shaking hands with people who had connections with that company. He now has his own agency (appropriately enough, called “Handshakin”), but in this week’s podcast he gave us some of his advice for free: Here are some of the highlights:

** When approaching someone online who you don’t know, be specific. Make them feel that they’re the only person capable of doing what you’re asking them to do.

** At networking events, don’t assume that just handing out your business card is the main goal. Have a conversation first before you go steaming in.

** Keep the ball rolling with the contacts you meet in real life. Follow up immediately online by adding them on one of your social networks.

** Wear a different hat depending on the networking event you’re attending. For example, consider if your goal is to find leads or if it’s to gain referrals. These two scenarios would require significantly different conversations.

** Get the job done quickly – it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s more important to strike while the iron’s hot (i.e. when your new contact/audience is receptive) than to wait longer and aim for perfection.

  The ever-increasing use of the online sphere has led some to believe that the formality of networking in person is a thing of the past, but this really is not the case. There is no substitute for a face-to-face meeting, but the many online networking opportunities out there are great for making the face-to-face meetings more likely to happen. And while there is much networking and business that can be done exclusively online, it is more important to understand how an online networking tool can link to ‘action’ in the real world (i.e. meeting for a coffee, doing some business etc.) than it is to be an expert at building up a load of online contacts. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The future of real-life networking

** The viability of networking groups

** How to stand out online

** The importance of building a personal brand

** The Conspire and Any Mail apps

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Sales Made Simple Workshops with Ben (http://actioncoachanz.com/salesmadesimple)

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth AUD$500.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Matt’s website (handshakin.com/about-matt)

** Matt’s Ebook “6 Networking Strategies For Entrepreneurs” (http://www.handshakin.com/free)

** Matt’s own agency site: (http://www.handshakin.com/)

** Matt’s username on Snapchat is “handshaking”

** Matt’s twitter is (http://www.twitter.com/handshakin)

** Any Mail app (https://anymailfinder.com/)

** Conspire App (https://www.conspire.com)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  “Network is net worth” as Matt so rightly said. If you’re starting out in business you’re going to need all the traction you can get, so networking is a must. And if you’ve got an established business, don’t be complacent and assume you have all the contacts you need. By networking you ensure that your business doesn’t stand still. 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: BBF079_Building_Relationships_to_Build_your_Business_Matt_Holmes.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Tom Breeze has made it his duty to educate people on the massive potential of YouTube advertising. He was inspired to spread the word after the roaring success of a video advert he created for his previous therapy/self-help business. Having never done video advertising before, he uploaded his own advert to his site, and was amazed to see his lead conversion rate go up from 7% to 22%.

Since then he has created over 1,700 video ad campaigns and has analysed the data from every single one of them, so he certainly knows what he’s talking about! You really must listen to it, but if you’re still not persuaded, here is a sneak preview of some of his best advice:

** Video doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact sometimes the opposite is better. An honest and down-to-earth description of why something is good can be a lot more effective than a contrived sales pitch.

** Don’t forget, YouTube is not merely an entertainment resource. More people than you think are researching products/services on YouTube.

** It’s always the ‘right time’ for the buyer on YouTube, because they’ve just proven they’re keen by typing in a particular search term.

** When you’re starting out it’s best if you create a campaign that can quickly turn leads in to sales. A long lead time between initial traffic and the possibility of buying will make it very hard for you to measure your progress effectively.

  Think of YouTube as a place where people go window shopping, but a place where there still are not all that many shops.  Youtube advertising is so often overlooked in the marketing mix, so there is a great opportunity to make a real impact. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The ‘four p’ formula

** What an Indisplay ad is

** How to use key phrases to your advantage in YouTube searches

** The most effective use of skippable, pre-roll ads

** The optimum length of video ads

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Leave feedback on this podcast and receive a free business coaching CD from Ben.  Winners are also entered into a draw for a DVD pack worth 500 AUD.  Email screenshot of your feedback to: ben@actioncoachanz.com

** Tom Breeze’s personal website (http://www.tombreeze.com)

** Tom’s Agency, Viewability (http://viewability.co.uk/)

** One-on-one 90-minute business assessment with Ben (http://www.businessassessment.com.au)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  Remember, Tom has done 1,700+ campaigns in his time, so if he says there’s a gap in the market that can be exploited on Youtube, you should believe him!  Don’t think that you don’t need video advertising, and don’t think that it’s going to be too much hassle to pull it off.  Get cracking with it today! 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: BBF078_Crushing_YouTube_Ads_Tom_Breeze.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Mark Schaefer is an absolute guru when it comes to social media. Having worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies over a number of years, he left the corporate world to indulge his obsession for sharing his knowledge with others, as a lecturer and author of six different books.

In this week’s podcast we are lucky enough to hear Mark giving us a sneak preview of his new book, The Content Code. Mark was inspired to write the book when he kept being asked the same questions from business owners, i.e. How do we get started? How do we create the strategy? How do we respond to negative comments? How do you measure all this? Here are some useful snippets:

** You can’t have a digital strategy unless you have a marketing strategy.

** Can you easily complete the sentence “only we….”? If you can’t, then you don’t have a strategy.

** Don’t be a slave to the different social mediums. Think first what the best kind of content is that you can create, and then find the platform best suited to delivering it.

** Zone in on who is sharing your content and tailor your output for them and people like them.

** It’s not all about traffic! Interaction is the key.

  By 2020, the amount of info on the web is expected to increase by 500%, so it is vitally important to focus properly on your content in order to stand out. As Mark puts it, “the rules of engagement” with the public are changing almost daily, but the main social platforms do not change regularly, so businesses should not be intimidated by all of the different choices out there. A working knowledge of the two or three most useful social platforms for your business is all you really need. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** What makes a social media channel popular

** How a business works out where their customers are

** The future viability of blogging

** How to get your content seen and shared

** The ‘alpha’ audience

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** The Marketing Companion Podcast (http://www.businessesgrow.com/podcast-the-marketing-companion-2/)

** Content Code Audiobook. You can get it for free from Amazon by signing up to the Audbile Book free trial (http://www.amazon.com)

** Mark’s website (http://www.businessesgrow.com)

** Business Assessment free tutorial (http://www.businessassessment.com.au)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

  Every business needs to understand social media, but more importantly; they need to understand how people are using it to interact with their business. If you believe a man of Mark Shaefer’s experience, this is not as difficult as it sounds…… just buy a book and you won’t go far wrong! 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: BBF077_The_Content_Code_Mark_W_Schaefer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Steve Hui is the leading authority on optimising credit cards for frequent flyer points. Dubbed “The Points Whisperer”, his company I Fly Flat helped his customers spend 125 million points in 2015.

Steve was inspired to start the business when he once flew business class and decided that he wanted to do it more often. He realised just what was possible by earning loyalty points on credit cards. He then advised his friends to switch credit cards and cash in on the benefits. When none of them took him up on the advice, he was frustrated enough to create his own company that helps people use points that they don’t know what do with, as well as pointing people in the direction of the right cards that will earn them the most points. They can then look after the entire flight booking process. The highlights of Steve’s story were:

** Starting a business where there is no existing market is worth the risk (he has no competitors)

** Businesses should use their credit cards to pay their suppliers – they can even pay their rent with it

** Using a credit card to pay monthly bills can pay your supplier immediately, but still give you 30+ days of credit

** By spending as little as 60,000 AUD, you can get free business class flights

** He received a great boost from media coverage, but wrongly thought that his company wasn’t interesting enough to be covered in the media. He advises anyone to have a media strategy, whatever their company

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** How to decide which credit cards are best for you

** How many points you will need for certain flights

** Strategies to achieve flight upgrades

** The concept of ‘remarketing’

** The 95% rule

** The pros and cons of using a marketing agency

Resources mentioned in this episode:

** I Fly Flat website (http://www.iflyflat.com.au)

** Facebook (www.facebook.com/businessbrainfood)

** Business Brain Food Facebook Group (www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood)

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

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

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

If you are using your credit card for regular purchases, you might well be entitled to significant frequent flyer points. If you are not using your credit card for regular purchases then you should, especially if you are a business! 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

Direct download: BBF076_Fly_Flat_with_Steve_Hui.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT