We were very lucky to be able to pick the brains of a leading inbound-marketing guru in this week’s episode. James Gilbert is the Marketing Director of Hubspot in the Asia/Pacific region, so he certainly knows a thing or two about inbound marketing. He spoke to us about some of the great success stories he’s seen in his time at Hubspot and the tricks of the trade you can use to your advantage.

See some of James’ top tips below:

**  You don’t want to advertise to people who don’t want to see your product. Allocate your resources properly!

**  For any marketing effort, make sure your reporting is accurate. If you can’t measure what works and what doesn’t then you will waste time and money.

**  Don’t be scared to give away your insight with good content. It’s so important to give your audience value with your content in order to build a strong relationship.

**  Tracking your marketing doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of free tools out there.

**  Do not underestimate the power of Facebook messenger. There are many active users but very little competition because most businesses simply aren’t onto it.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  The inner workings of Hubspot

**  The meaning of inbound marketing

**  How to track phone calls

**  Which types of content work

**  Content clusters explained

**  The power of marketing automation

**  Chatbots and messenger marketing

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Do you have what it takes to be a Business Excelerator at Max My Profit? Find out more here: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au

**  Marcus Sheridan’s incredible content success story: https://blog.hubspot.com/opinion/uattr/marcus-sheridan-hubspot-inbound-conference-2013-bold-talk

**  Connect with James on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jatgilbert/

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

Give as much value as you can with your content… look what it did for Marcus Sheridan!

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

In this episode we talk about the all-important concept of looking after number one. Rik Schnabel has been coaching people for 15 years, empowering them to throw away their baggage and achieve their ambitions. Rik has authored four books and is a certified life coach, so he certainly knows what he’s talking about.

See some of Rik’s top tips below:

**  We all need to be better sales people because all of us are basically selling something.

**  Beliefs are your on and your off switch. They can totally define your future.

**  It takes a lot of courage to believe in something that is difficult to prove. But you must keep believing!

**  Reasons get results. When you have a good reason you will do what you can to succeed.

**  Books and videos can help, but coaching is the ultimate for turning yourself around. Even Rik is coached by somebody else.

**  Time and money are basically used as the biggest excuses for not getting more time and more money.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  Rik’s amazing story

**  How to avoid negative believers

**  How to invest in your why

**  Is it possible to change your mindset on your own?

**  The seven beliefs that hold people back

**  Imposter syndrome

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Do you have what it takes to be a Business Excelerator at Max My Profit? Find out more here: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au

**  Rik’s website: http://www.lifebeyondlimits.com.au

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

As Rik says, “the best ROi in life will come from training with a coach”. Don’t forget the importance of your own mindset!

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

We had a really insightful conversation with Lee Martin Seymour about how to define yourself in a crowded marketplace, and how his company X Ref is revolutionising employee references. Martin’s company began as an idea scribbled on the back of a napkin, but now he has a global business that recently raised AUD 20m from a flotation.

See some of Lee’s top tips below:

**  Successful entrepreneurs love risk and have the ability to make a decision. If you’ve got a good idea, make that decision and run with it!

**  People normally complain about a product/process if they know there is an alternative, but often they won’t complain if there is no obvious alternative way of doing things. Just because you can’t see a public demand for something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your idea forwards.

**  When recruiting, make data-driven decisions, not gut-driven decisions.

**  When hiring new employees, ALWAYS do a reference check!

**  When making big business decisions, i.e. listing as a PLC, try and get unbiased advice from people who don’t stand to gain from the ultimate decision.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  The importance of culture over KPI

**  What questions to ask when taking a reference

**  How to focus on one problem

**  How long a reference should be

**  Listing companies explained

**  The benefits of hands-on company ownership

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Do you have what it takes to be a Business Excelerator at Max My Profit? Find out more here: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au

**  Lee’s company site: http://www.xref.com

**  Lee’s email address: lee@xref.com

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

Lee keeps going back to the point of “Culture over KPI”. Creating a happy team is absolutely fundamental to the success of any 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
(02) 9111 5000

We have a viral internet legend on the show today, and who knows, maybe he can help you become one too! Max Lanman shot to fame when a humourous advert he created to help sell his girlfriend’s second-hand car went viral (the original Youtube clip is at 6.7m viewers and counting!). Max also has a business that creates video content for clients around the world, so he’s a very good man to speak to about how to maximise the impact of your video campaigns.

See some of Max’s top tips below:

**  Find an emotional background for everything that you do. Understand what you want your audience to feel.

**  Be careful to not place too much of an emphasis of AB testing. If you’re too systematic, your output will lack humanity.

**  Think of your video output as a multi-pronged attack. These days, the best campaigns are normally spread over multiple short videos rather than one long one.

**  If you genuinely connect with the video you’re shooting, there’s a good chance the audience will too.

**  Don’t get too hung up on expensive equipment. How you use it is so much more important.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  Max’s incredible story

**  What Max has learnt about video from his journey

**  The value of TV commercials in 2018

**  “The emotional north star"

**  Entertaining V educating in adverts

**  Explainer videos

**  Setting the right budget

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Learn more about our Business Excelerator program: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au

**  Watch Max’s legendary viral advert here

**  Max’s personal website: http://www.maxlanman.com

**  Max’s creative agency: http://www.leao.tv

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

You can never guarantee that a video will “go viral”, but if you follow Max’s lead and concentrate on every last detail, you will give yourself every chance.

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

This week you will learn from a LinkedIn superstar about how to win on LinkedIn without needing to spend a cent on advertising. Adam Houlahan is a world-renowned social media guru, having authored two Amazon bestselling books on the matter. He is also in great demand as a keynote speaker. At the latest count, Adam has helped 13,500 people fulfil their potential on LinkedIn.

See some of Adam’s top tips below:

**  Don’t be afraid to reach out to gurus. You might be surprised at how generous people can be with their time.

**  The preparation for your campaign is everything. Get your content right!

**  Be prepared to invest an hour per day on LinkedIn.

**  85% of videos are watched without sound.

**  Mix up your content on LinkedIn, otherwise you will be marked down by the algorithm.

**  Be careful about over-selling yourself. Only two articles per month should be directly promotional content.

**  Don’t accept connection requests from anybody. Make sure your connections are genuinely useful to you.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  How LinkedIn can work for you

**  Should you be on LinkedIn?

**  LinkedIn searching

**  The amount of content you need each month

**  LinkedIn videos

**  How to capitalise on leads on LinkedIn

**  Where Linkedin fits into the sales funnel

**  How to approach connecting with people

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Learn more about our Business Excelerator program: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au

**  Adam’s free LinkedIn profile optimisation course: http://www.adamhoulahan.com

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

There is no magic bullet towards becoming a marketable prospect on LinkedIn, but if you follow some of Adam’s simple rules, 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!

This week we will gain an amazing insight into the new world of disruption, with the founder of an app that completely redefines the way people apply for jobs. Andrew Joyce is the co-founder of Found Careers: the only job platofrm where prospects can instantly apply for multiple jobs from one tap on their phone. Starting in 2015, Andrew is now presiding over a multi-million dollar business, and has raised AUD 4.5m in funding along the way.

See some of Andrew’s top tips below:

**  Take action when you can. Don’t agonise too much on your plan and stop yourself innovating.

**  Once you make a short-term plan (i.e. 6 months), don’t be afraid to review it and change your stance early on.

**  Over half of website traffic comes from mobiles. There is no sign of this upward curve stopping.

**  Do what you can to prove some early traction for your project before going to investors.

**  Always remember that anything you are developing needs to solve a problem.

**  Marketing is king. If you’re starting an app and you put it on the app store with no marketing, you’ll get no downloads whatsoever.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  The story of Found Careers

**  The future of job advertising

**  How best to court investors

**  How to build a big business in the long term

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Download our free business-planning template: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au

**  Andrew’s job site: http://www.found.careers

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood 

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

Listen to Andrew: everything is going mobile. If you aren’t ready for this, you will lose!

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

Alex Baro really is not your average CEO. He’s only 28 and he’s never even had a full-time job! The trials and tribulations of his online fashion retailer Black Swallow serve as a great lesson for all of us. He built up his company from zero to 10m AUD annual turnover in year two, so how did he do it?

See some of Alex’s top tips below:

**  Price is the biggest differentiator in online retailing.

**  Suppliers need to genuinely like you. If there is no rapport you won’t get a good deal.

**  Do not underestimate the power of video. If you’re selling a product that you believe in, create a video that demonstrates how good it is.

**  Get your online advertising right. Alex spends 10% of his annual turnover on Facebook advertising (over a million dollars!).

**  Be persistent. One of Alex’s biggest-selling product came after multiple refusals from the supplier.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  The fast-fashion marketplace explained

**  The pitfalls of an importation business

**  How Alex recovered from being hacked

**  The potential cost of outdoor advertising

**  How Alex risked everything and made his own luck

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Would you like to join MaxMyProfit as a Business Excellerator? Visit us here for more information: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au/about

**  Alex’s company website: http://www.blackswallow.com.au

**  Black Swallow’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blackswallowboutique/

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

Alex’s story is a lesson in persistence. To build that multi-million dollar business you always dreamed of, you need to take some big risks and be prepared to ride out some rough times.

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

If you listen to our guest Isaac Tolpin, you will totally change the way you train your staff! Isaac is an EdTech disruptor and an expert in the relationship between human behaviour, technology and business. He knows exactly how to tap into millennials to get the best out of them in the workplace.

See some of Isaac’s top tips below:

**  Micro learning has been proven as the most effective form of learning in business. Bitesized content is the way to go.

**  If you’re doing anything digital, don’t break learner trust. They need to learn something, feedback, complete it and get recognised for it within 5 minutes.

**  Be careful when training your team. Long, extensive courses can become outdated quickly. If your audience sees something irrelevant they will not engage with the rest of the content.

**  Learning should never be an event. Only if it’s constant can it actually change a culture.

**  You can create courses yourself for a tiny percentage of the cost of conventional training courses.

**  48% of millennials will not use a PC for any digital media. Take note of this! You can’t assume you can teach people using long and detailed resources that require a computer.

**  To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to be selective with whose opinion you listen to. Make sure they don’t have a vested interest!

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  The definition of an EdTech disruptor

**  The inner workings of conveyour.com

**  The benefits of micro learning

**  How a leaderboard can encourage learning and achievement

**  Decision-tree mechanisms explained

**  Training via SMS

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Would you like to join MaxMyProfit as a Business Excellerator? Visit us here for more information: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au/about

**  Isaac’s training business: http://www.conveyour.com

**  Isaac's Microlearning Webinar and 19 Page E-Book: https://events.genndi.com/register/818182175026316034/f813fa2f1f

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

Listen to Isaac and modernise your training! Don’t assume millennials will have the patience for long, formal courses.

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

A common tale among business owners is how difficult it is to find the right people. Thankfully our guest this week knows all of the tricks of the trade to help you make the right hiring choices.

Natasha Hawker is an old hand in the recruitment game. Her company, Emloyee Matters, works with clients across Australia, the UK, US and Asia to find the best candidates. She’s also written the highly acclaimed book, “From Hire to fire”.

See some of Natasha’s top tips below:

**  Your employees are your greatest assets, but they’re also your greatest liability.

**  Do what you can to avoid using agencies. If you’ve focused your role and offering well enough, you should find the right candidates.

**  Get your job advert right. No spelling mistakes!

**  Don’t get stuck on the idea of just one interview. You should do a phone screen first, then an interview specific to the role, and then an interview to understand the values of the candidate.

**  Don’t go over the top when selling your own organisation. If you give too much away to your candidate then you won’t get a true understanding of their preparation.

**  Even if you’re a small business, think long and hard about your extra offerings for a job, i.e. working from home, healthcare etc.

**  Don’t assume your future employees will come by simply replying to your adverts. Natasha finds 50% of her candidates by approaching them cold.

In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

**  What makes people nervous about recruitment

**  The pros and cons of recruitment agencies

**  The different sourcing channels available

**  The active V passive market

**  What makes a great job description

**  The flexibility needed to attract good employees

**  Talent banking explained

**  How to structure your interviews

Resources mentioned in this episode:

**  Would you like to join MaxMyProfit as a Business Excellerator? Visit us here for more information: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au/about

**  Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” methodology can be found here

**  Natasha’s website with a load of free recruitment resources, including a free employee metrics tool, can be found here

**  The Business Brain Food Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

**  All previous BBF episodes & show notes can be found at http://www.businessbrainfood.com.au

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

Call to action:

When you’re recruiting, don’t forget you’re in 2018. BE FLEXIBLE!

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