Episode 29 - Emotional Marketing

Even when we think we're being logical and rational, we're human beings, we make decisions emotionally. Where this gets really interesting is when we look at how we make business decisions. In this episode we’re getting emotional!

I’m introducing you to some fantastic insights from Harvard Business Review on emotional motivators in marketing and why this could be your secret weapon when it comes to attracting and converting the clients you really want. Hundreds of “emotional motivators” drive consumer behaviour, but I’ll cover the main 3 or 4 I would suggest considering, along with giving you examples of how to tap into these emotions in your marketing.

I’ll also talk about why we have a responsibility when we choose to leverage emotions in our marketing, and why doing it well is absolutely not about manipulating people.

If you would like to find out more about the research I reference in this episode, check out: https://hbr.org/2015/11/the-new-science-of-customer-emotions

Episode 28: Be Vulnerable, Find Your People

If you run a business you’ll know how lonely it can be, but also how rewarding and fulfilling too. Regardless whether you’re flying or failing, there’s no doubt that finding your people is a must if you want to enjoy the hike AND the mountain! But how do you find the right people and connect with them?

In this episode your host, Siobhan Fox, is joined by the wonderful Sam Adams - the least life coach-y life coach you’ll ever meet! Sam shares talks about her particular flavour of ‘real-life’ coaching, why her work doesn’t fit neatly into a box and her amazing experience of connecting with a group of like-minded female business owners. She talks about the courage it can take to be vulnerable around new people, plus the pay off of that bravery in terms of the relationships you will make.

Siobhan and Sam also discuss why everyone has ‘luggage’, why swearing is a super-power, plus the importance of remembering to enjoy the hike, even when you’re aiming for the next mountain peak.

Have you found your people in business? If you enjoy listening to this episode please drop us a rating or review and hit us with your stories and opinions. We’re here for it.

Let’s keep the conversation going and let’s do business, differently.

For more information on our guest, Sam Adams, check out https://sam-adams.com/

Episode 27: Why It's High Time To Redefine ‘Professional’

This podcast episode comes straight to you from the brain of your host, Siobhan Fox. This is what she needs you to know...

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I don’t know about you but I reckon it’s high time we threw out that dusty, stereotype-filled rule book and redefined what professional looks like for the modern era. Are you up for starting a movement!?

In this episode I talk through three particularly spicy topics when it comes to the debate on professionalism: sharing shit about yourself on LinkedIn, swearing, how you look (tattoos, piercings etc) and last but not least: the long last art of humour.

I discuss where I think these debates originated, my strong opinions on each, and what action I think we need to be taking to throw out the old tropes and be less judgmental of stuff that isn’t any of our business. Because really, what IS our business is BUSINESS, not what the person doing that business looks or sounds like, ya hear me?

- - - - - - 

What do you think about the debate on what is and isn’t professional? If you enjoy listening to this episode please drop us a rating or review and hit us with your stories and opinions. We’re here for it.

Let’s keep the conversation going and let’s do business, differently.

For more information on your host, Siobhan Fox, and her work with unconventional business owners who want to win more ace clients in less time (and who also love to swear) check out www.revealmarketinguk.com/work-with-me

Episode 26 - What did we learn from Season 1 and what action are we taking?

Season 1 of the Unconventional Business Podcast has come to an end and we are taking a break for the rest of the summer. So what did we learn along the way? The answer: so freakin much! But most importantly, we learned that there are more of us unconventional types out there, tearing up the rule book, solving our clients’ problems in new and exciting ways and most importantly: doing it all OUR WAY! Three cheers for the unconventional - it’s fun, right!? In this episode you join me on a walk and talk, so the soundtrack to my reflections on Season 1 is provided by the streets of Winchester, buses, cars, people an’ all! I talk about some of the highlights of Season 1, some interesting things I’ve noticed about some of our guests and from the feedback I’ve received, along with giving you some guidance on how to actually take ACTION from what you’ve learned.

Thank you so much to all our amazing Season 1 guests and to you for listening and taking the time to message me with your feedback. I’d love to know how we’ve inspired you to think or do something differently. Don’t miss us too much - we’ll be back in September with some incredible new guests and some more rule-breaking, foundation-shaking, noise-making content.

For lots of unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you consistently kick ass in your business, check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 25: Two ADHDers recorded a podcast…

What happens when two ADHDers record a podcast? You get way more value than you bargained for, obviously! In this episode I am joined by Carol May - The Disruptive Health Coach - to talk our relationship with ourselves and how we eat. There are some rabbit holes along the way - for instance why gender roles are so problematic for children, how connecting inwardly is so important for the success of your business, and why all government decisions seem to be based on treating symptoms rather than problems! We also cover what chaotic eating can look like for ADHDers and how healing that relationship is key to understanding how best to nourish your body and mind. Through noticing language around food, education about healthy eating and of course, a better understanding of ADHD itself, Carol shares some key insights to creating a balanced view of how (and why!) we eat the way we do.

Find out more about Carol and her work:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-may/?originalSubdomain=uk

https://www.instagram.com/thedisruptivehealthcoach/?hl=en

Episode 24: Give your future self some A.S.S.

What is the opposite of self-sabotage (where we set out future self up to fail!)? And how do we access the opposite of self-sabotage, so we can set our future self up for success? Why is connecting with our future self so hard? Instead of my solo rambles this week, I am joined by Nici Gorman - The Sweary Spiritual Coach - to answer some burning questions about self-sabotage.

We discuss the nature of self-sabotage - what it is, why we do it, how it manifests - and how we can overcome it by giving ourselves some A.S.S. (Antithesis of Self-Sabotage!). Nici introduces some of the science behind this phenomenon, we give some examples of how it can play out in real life, plus we give you lots of actionable strategies to connect with your future self and take small steps in the present that future you will be oh-so-grateful for! It’s time to pay it forward to YOU and give your future self some A.S.S. because you’re worth it.

Find out more about Nici and her work here:

https://www.nicigorman.com/

For lots of unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you run your biz your way, check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 23: Tell stories to power up your content

As a small business owner, especially those of us on our own, one of our biggest drivers is finding the right number of the right clients to keep our business flourishing. So what’s the simplest way to find and connect with the clients you’re looking for?

In this episode I’m joined by the wonderful Rebecca Clark of Powered Up Content, quirky loving copywriter helping small businesses to build relationships with their leads through storytelling. We centre our conversation on the inherent value in sharing our human stories, to connect emotionally with our audience and attract the leads we’re looking for.

We talk about our shared love of words, the range of valuable relatable stories we can share and how storytelling is, in fact, a very natural approach in business. Rebecca shares some insight into her writing process and how discovering how to reconnect with herself has been pivotal for the growth of her business, plus some fantastic tips to put the fun back into your writing.

Ultimately, the way human beings interact with each other is through stories. Learn how to leverage yours to power up your content and you’ll reap the rewards!

Learn more about Rebecca and her work:

https://www.poweredupcontent.com

https://www.instagram.com/poweredupcontent/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-clark-copywriter/

Episode 22: The best way to own it on the channels you own

How do you make your marketing channels work for you? In this episode I break down what marketing channels you have in your arsenal as a small business owner - and crucially, which you actually ‘own’ vs which could be taken away from your in the blink of an eye (or a block of an account!)

This episode follows on from last week’s where I talked about the best way to promote your small business without spending a tonne of money. If you did your homework (yes, I actually set you homework!) then this week’s episode will help you take action on what you figured out. We’re going to take that magnetic message of yours and get it seen by the right eyeballs at the right time, so you get the right clients knocking at your door.

If you’re listening after the date of the Masterclass mentioned in this ep then don’t worry! More will be announced in 2023. In the meantime, for lots of unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you consistently create marketing content that you AND your audience enjoy, check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 21: Why Your Network Is Your Net Worth

We are more than our businesses, and one of our strengths as small or independent business owners is that connecting on a personal level with our network is much easier than it is for larger companies. Finding common ground and a shared interest or life experience is a powerful way to be remembered and recommended through business circles as much as social ones.

In this episode, I am joined by Jamie Stewart, straight-talking Northerner and founder of Circle Networks.

We talk about the importance of putting relationships at the forefront of business networking so you can truly connect with the individual rather than the transaction. How this approach helps to not only connect in that initial conversation but how it can make you memorable and interesting in a way that builds a longer-lasting impression.

We talk about finding ‘our kind of people’, the joys and challenges of networking in 2022 and tips on how to go deep instead of wide to really stand out, grow and support your network.

Find out more about Jamie and his work here:

https://circlenetworks.co.uk/

Or connect with Jamie on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiecstewart/

Episode 20: The Best Way To Promote Your Small Business Without Spending Money

As small businesses, there is often a time when cash flow is not our friend. Whether it’s when we start out or when we get to the point where we need some extra support - it can be tricky to know when and how to invest back into the business and what we are happy to trade instead of cold, hard cash.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing some advice on how to make sure your investment - whether that’s time, money or trust - is well placed and beneficial for your business, and sharing some of my mistakes and successes for you to learn from along the way. I’ll also share some of the free options that are out there including resources and websites you can use to help your business thrive on a budget.

For lots of very reasonably priced unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you consistently create great marketing that gets results, check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 19: Getting Creative Through Left Brain AND Right Brain Thinking

Everyone has a unique way of approaching the world that is a mixture of logic and creativity. You may not think of yourself as one or the other but the truth is we are all blend of both. It’s how we problem-solve, how we share ideas and information and how we run our businesses. In this episode, I am joined by Caroline Buist, a VA and copywriter who is on a personal mission to help creative business owners do the work they love. We talk about loving what you do and enjoying the process, plus the successes you experience whilst avoiding the trap of comparison. We share our experiences of being creative with a balance of process and strategy, and how it’s important to show up as your own blend wherever you choose to market your business, and the best and worst advice we've received as businesses owners.

Find out more about Caroline and her work here:

https://abovebeyondva.co.uk/

Or connect with Caroline on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-buist-the-copy-queen/

Episode 18: Why You Might Be Un-Google-able (and what to do about it)

Marketing may look like an ever-changing beast but at it’s core, it’s about connection. Connecting the right people to create the right solution. All the rest is the details but that connection - and how we communicate that - is the core of good marketing.

In this episode I’ll be using a handy analogy to break down one of the biggest challenges I see people face when it comes to talking about their business, and how you can use this new framing to show up on Google at potential clients fingertips - even if they aren’t 100% sure what they need. I’ll talk you through how to find the angles that work for you and more importantly how to connect with your audience with ease, encourage them to continue the conversation wherever they show up and how this translates into Google’s blessing.

For lots of unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you consistently create marketing content that you AND your audience enjoy, check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 17: The Purpose of Paying It Forward

When you are your business, it can feel like a constant battle between you as a human and you as the business owner the world sees, and the balance between vulnerability, authenticity, and embracing your own blend of magic takes effort.

In this episode, I am joined by the organisational unicorn that is Kate Browning of Cherry Blossom Management.

We talk about the change in mindset and actions that can take time to wrap your brain around when you leave a corporate environment, and how ultimately finding your unique approach to business can be tricky but oh-so rewarding.

We chat about self-care being a necessity - not an option - when you are your business and unlearning workplace cultivated behaviours that hold you back when you are your own boss. And we open up about the vulnerability that comes with showing up as yourself (even when you don’t feel like it or when things are not as glittery as you want) and why it matters to us to pay it forward in business.

Find out more about Kate and her work here:

https://cherryblossommanagement.co.uk/

Or connect with Kate on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebrowningcbm/

Episode 16: What No-One Is Telling You About Launching

Launching - like any part of business - is not something that can be wrapped up in a simple 3-step process. It’s as unique as you are and often that is not talked about - until today! Yep, you guessed it, it's myth-busting time. Real talk coming up...

In this episode, I’ll be dispelling some of the mystery of those golden launches we often hear about, along with showing you how you can find a way to launch in a way that works for YOU.

I’ll break down what launching is and give you some unconventional marketing (and mindset) tactics that you can put into practice. I’ll share my failures and successes from my own launches, along with some behind the scenes of how I approach bringing something new to my clients and audience.

No gimmicks, no secrets - just my experience, observations and a different perspective - as always!

For lots of unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you run your biz on your terms check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 15: How Not To Be A Dick In Business

Businesses - like everything else - thrive on connection. With so much advice out there driven by personal experience and opinion, how can you fundamentally make sure you are both giving and receiving the right advice for your business?

In this episode, I am joined by Jeremy Jacobs from Cookie Jar Consultancy. We discuss the changing face of LinkedIn and celebrate the changing face of acceptance in media (both social and otherwise), plus how to find your people by showing up as yourself (whilst calling IN the trolls!).

We explore how open conversation is the way to understand, question, learn and educate for all things important in life and business - whether that’s identity as a four-year-old or having the courage to say you don’t understand what white privilege is. Challenging ‘the way of things’ and calling BS on 'celebrity’ business advice - it all comes down to honesty, integrity and not being a dick in business. Be warned: this ep is not for the faint-hearted! There’s plenty of real talk and a bucket-load of swearing.

Find out more about Jeremy and his work here:

www.cookiejarconsultancy.com

Or connect with him on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyjacobsuk/

Episode 14: The Peculiar Business of Pricing

Pricing is so much more than how much something costs. There are the practical elements - like time and experience, but also an emotional factor that can make it tricky to set your prices at any stage of your business.

In this episode I’ll be sharing my journey to setting my pricing and how I approach it, along with breaking down the common tripping-up points, along with a dollop of suggested structure to help you find your sweet spot.

I’ll talk about both short and long-term strategies and different ideas on how you may want to settle on the financial fundamentals for your business.

For lots of unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you run your business on your terms, check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 13: Defying Stereotypes as an MLM

MLMs have been an accessible way to start a business with minimal risk for decades, but with it comes preconceptions that can be difficult to break through and embrace your business as your own.

In this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Georgia Mulliss an ex-IT project manager turned aroma coach.

We talk about finding your passion as a regular person who finds something that works for you, becoming extremely passionate about it and finding your way of sharing that with the world through business.

We chat about falling into expected narratives and industry ‘norms’ as our internal ‘shoulds’ take over and facing preconceptions as an MLM (Multi Level Marketing) business owner finding their voice, and discuss some of the unethical and confusing advice taught within the MLM industry.

Find out more about Georgia and her work here:

https://www.facebook.com/georgiamulliss/

Or connect with her on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-mulliss-ickfree/

Episode 12: Formulas vs Frameworks (with optional marshmallows)

Starting a business is like stepping into an advice-fuelled firing range. Everyone has their tips, tricks, hacks and habits and it can be overwhelming to listen, learn and remember who you are in the centre of all this.

In this episode, I’ll be busting some myths about what really works (spoilers: it’s not one size fits all) while helping you to find the big questions, missing puzzle pieces and figuring out the strategy before the action happens.

I’ll talk about formulas, frameworks and phony advice - how to tell the difference and what you can learn from each. Because you can always learn something!

For lots of unconventional products (physical and digital) to help you consistently create content that you AND your audience enjoy, check out:

https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop

Episode 11: Why we don't talk to women (but we should!)

50% of your audience are female. How much do you consider that fact when you create your products, services, marketing and content? And how do you appeal to women in an authentic, meaningful way, without patronising them?

In this episode I’m joined my the wonderful Amber Lee, a copywriter who creates original female-focused content, working with startups and new businesses, to help them get to the point and show off what they do best.

We talk about her unconventional route into copywriting, the importance of building a business community, our problems with Paw Patrol, and why a lot of businesses and brands don’t talk to women in their marketing… but they should!

If you yourself are female, you probably do. As Amber says in this episode: women are generally pretty good at talking to women! But what if you’re not? How do you ensure that what you’re creating will appeal to women as well as men, so you’re not missing out on 50% of your customer base? Amber shares some great examples and top tips in this episode!

Find out more about Amber and her work here: https://yesamberlee.co.uk/

Or connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yesamberlee/

Episode 10: Content marketing: what no one is telling you

What do I post, where and how often?! Everyone talks about what you need to do to create content that's captivating to your audience and clients, but how about creating a process that's captivating TO YOU, so you can create & show up consistently!?

Just imagine content creation…

...saving you time

...being enjoyable and fun

…helping you get the clients and customers you really want!

News flash: it’s totally possible, but first we need to understand what you are being told that is bullshit!

In this episode I bust some myths, share some different perspectives on content creation & content marketing, as well as dropping some truth bombs that might fly in the face of what you hear elsewhere.

For more real-world guidance on how to consistently create content that you AND your audience enjoy, check out our selection of totally unconventional templates and training: https://revealmarketinguk.com/shop