Simple business strategies for entrepreneurs. Ignite your entrepreneurial spirit with the ultimate blend of fun and powerful discussion on small business BS (AKA, Business Strategies). Each week, Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas bring you actionable BS, creative marketing ideas, and clever growth hacks—all delivered with their signature energy and passion for small businesses. Whether you're launching a side hustle or scaling your brick-and-mortar store, join us for simplified but effective strat ...
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#28: Content Marketing Part 6 - Search Engine Optimization (SEO) For Small Businesses
28:03
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28:03In this episode, we wrap up our series on content marketing, diving into Search Engine Optimization (SEO). We explain what SEO is, why it's important, how AI is impacting SEO, and provide some real examples for how to get started.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#27: Content Marketing Part 5 - Types of Content
30:34
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30:34We continue our series on content marketing this week - Join us as we dive into all the different types of content you can create for your business.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#26: Content Marketing Part 4 - Email Marketing Basics - What it is and why it's important.
22:16
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22:16In this episode, we continue our series on content marketing, focusing this week on email marketing basics.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#25: Content Marketing Part 3 - Lead magnets - What they are, why they are important, and how to create lead magnets that work.
35:02
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35:02Lead magnets are free resources offered in exchange for contact information, used to build email lists and nurture potential customers. Lead magnets are different than discovery tools like podcasts. In this episode we share a variety of examples of effective lead magnets for different industries. More examples at smallbusinessbs.com…
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#24: Content Marketing Part 2 - Marketing & Sales Funnels - What actually matters to your business.
28:21
28:21
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28:21Part 2 of our series on content marketing focuses on marketing and sales funnels. We discuss what their actual purposes are, why it's important to think about them, how to approach creating them, the mistakes to avoid, and why this is all valuable to your business.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#23: Content Marketing Part 1 - What is content marketing?
19:28
19:28
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19:28This is Part One of our series on content marketing. In this episode, we explore what content marketing is and why you should be using it for your business.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#22: Single Most Effective Marketing Tool for a Brick & Mortar Business
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23:24In this episode, we argue about what the single most effective marketing tool is for a brick & mortar business. Since I (Jeff) upload these episodes, I get to state for the record that I was correct and Adam was wrong. Enjoy the episode!By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#21: The Roller Coaster: Staying level, staying calm, and recognizing your success.
24:24
24:24
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24:24In this episode, we discuss the inevitable emotional roller coaster all entrepreneurs, creators, and business owners will need to deal with. How do we survive the ups and downs of business successes and failures? We explore the idea of identifying what is urgent versus what is important, and where we allow ourselves to invest the limited amount of …
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#20: Writing A Book: The Best Business Card for Your Small Business
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32:05In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of writing a book. Find out why writing a book can be the best business card you ever have, and a few reasons why you should NOT write a book.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#19: Imposter Syndrome, Beginner's Syndrome, and Bully Syndrome.
31:43
31:43
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31:43Imposter Syndrome, Beginner's Syndrome, and Bully Syndrome. What are they, how do they impact our small business, and how do we overcome them? Whether you're a creator, an entrepreneur, or a small business owner, you almost certainly deal with at least 1 of these...like 2 or all 3. Let's explore how we can get through these additional challenges.…
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#18: Patience: Your Secret Weapon for Small Business Success
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26:14
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26:14Patience plays a crucial role in achieving small business success. Significant business growth often takes longer than people want, and longer than we think. Adopt a patient mindset, persevere through challenges, and set realistic expectations for long-term development.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#17: The Buyer's Journey - What it is, how it connects to your sales funnel, and why your small business needs to get clarity on it.
27:00
27:00
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27:00The buyer's journey is a foundational element for effective sales funnels. Understanding how your target audience gets to the point of making a purchase should inform the design of all your sales funnels. Explore Adam's "FEEL" framework: Find It, Experience It, Engage It, and Love It. This helps us guide potential customers from discovery to loyal …
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#16: Introduction to Sales Funnels - What can we learn from Adam's experience with a time share sales event?
24:44
24:44
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24:44In this episode we explore sales funnels through the lens of Adam going through the sales process of a time share. We cover a foundational understanding of sales funnels, explaining them as the path a customer takes from discovering a business to making a purchase. Businesses of all types can apply the principles of a sales funnel, even through som…
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#15: Diversify Your Income With A Side Hustle - Looking for stepping stones and finding your side hustle "Sweet Spot."
26:52
26:52
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26:52In this episode, we discuss diversifying income streams, particularly for those in corporate jobs or with established businesses. Jeff and Adam explore the idea of side hustles as a "life preserver" in a changing career landscape where the traditional corporate ladder is less prevalent. We share stories of using side hustles to navigate career chan…
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#14: 7 Types of Business Owners - Finding your 'sweet spot' for success and happiness.
28:38
28:38
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28:38In this episode, we explore 7 types of business owners, from employees to investors. We challenge the conventional notion that businesses must constantly expand, highlighting the potential for fulfillment at any stage. Self-awareness is the key when determining the right fit for a business owner based on your skills and happiness.…
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#13: SWOT Analysis - Identifying Your Business Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
23:52
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23:52In this episode we discuss the SWOT Analysis framework for small businesses and entrepreneurs to identify their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. We share some real examples of how businesses can utilize SWOT to identify potential issues and opportunities.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#12: Business Strategy - Making time to work ON your business.
25:49
25:49
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25:49In this episode, we explore more about your business strategy. We bounce to a few different pieces, such as the importance of making working ON your business a priority, a simple framework for strategic planning, and the distinction between urgent tasks and important strategies.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#11: Email Marketing - What it is, why you should be using it, and some ideas for how it can help.
19:53
19:53
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19:53This episode focuses on email marketing strategies for businesses of all sizes. We dive into what email marketing is and how it can be a cost-effective tool for driving sales and building customer relationships. We discuss how businesses can use email to stay connected with customers, provide valuable information and reminders, and ultimately conve…
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#10: Know Your Numbers - Simplify and find a system that works for your business.
23:37
23:37
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23:37In this episode we discuss the importance of understanding key financial numbers for small business owners. We debate the necessity of complex financial reports versus focusing on essential metrics like cash flow and your cashflow runway. The key is tailoring the systems for your business's financial management to individual business needs. Often, …
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#09: Business Model vs. Business Plan vs. Business Strategy
19:03
19:03
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19:03In this episode, we chat about the differences (and connections) between business models, business strategies, and business plans.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#08: Brand & Branding - The history of branding for businesses, and the importance of knowing what your brand actually is.
19:09
19:09
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19:09In this episode, we discuss branding and your brand. We chat through the history of branding and how it got to what we know it as in today's marketing, and dive into what you brand actually is. (hint: it's not your logo) For more information and free resources, go to www.smallbusinessbs.com.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#07: Target Audience - Defining the specific people who are most likely to become customers of your business.
13:45
13:45
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13:45In this episode, we discuss the importance of identifying a target audience for your business. Defining the target audience involves understanding the specific groups of people most likely to purchase your business's products or services. For more information and free resources, go to www.smallbusinessbs.com.…
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#06: Your Value Proposition - What sets your business apart and why should I buy from you?
18:18
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18:18In this episode we discuss the importance of a strong value proposition for small businesses. Your value proposition is a clear statement of the benefits your company offers, and is crucial for both internal understanding and external marketing. We explore the example of a coffee shop to illustrate how a value proposition, such as community focus o…
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#05: Website Best Practices - How to make your small business website better.
17:27
17:27
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17:27This episode focuses on website best practices for small businesses. We discuss the importance of your website's "above the fold" content and its role in attracting and retaining visitors. We'll also highlight the significance of consistent branding and language throughout your website and discuss the challenges faced by solopreneurs in building a …
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#04: Website builders - How to find the right platform for your business website.
31:52
31:52
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31:52In this episode, we discuss website builders for small businesses. We compare popular platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly, and how to decide which is best for your business's needs. We'll chat through the trade-offs between ease of use and customization, why experimenting with free trials is the best way to find the best fit, and…
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In this episode, we discuss the different purposes a small business website can serve, ranging from a simple online presence ("online sign") to a fully functional e-commerce platform ("online sales department"). We explore determining your website's purpose based on your business's needs and goals, and also touch a little on website design consider…
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#02: Welcome again - Is this podcast for you?
13:30
13:30
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13:30We discuss a bit more about who this podcast is for, what you can expect, and the value we hope to bring you.By Adam Witmer and Jeff Gargas
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#01: Welcome to Small Business BS - Who are we & why are we here?
15:13
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15:13Welcome to the first episode of Small Business BS! In this episode, Adam and Jeff introduce themselves and share a little about their backgrounds, how they go here, and why we started this show. This podcast aims to share our entrepreneurial journeys, offering relatable insights and actionable strategies for small business owners. Each episode will…
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