Cheers To Business

It's your civic duty to file charges against somebody that's embezzled money from your company. If your gut isn't right, if your head is telling us something ain't right here, then it's probably not right. - Ashley Rich

In this episode, Karen and guest-host Michelle Crowe talk with Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich. Ashley lays out how to handle receiving bad checks, employee theft, employee fraud, and what you proactive things you can do to avoid having this happen with your business. Plus, Karen shares some CPA and payroll ninja tricks to protect your business from being taken advantage of and ripped off.

Key Takeaways

There's no amount too small or too big for the district attorney to work with the police department when investigating bad checks and employee theft.

Always file charges on employees that steal from your company or customers that write bad checks. It's your civil duty.

DO NOT create a payback arrangement with the bad check writer or guilty employee.

Work with your bank to set up anti-hacking plans for your business account and work with your CPA to implement internal checks and balances. Be proactive, not reactive.

Do background checks before you hire.

Resources

Mobile County District Attorney  -  Website  |   Facebook 

Ashley Rich  -  Twitter 

Michelle Crowe  -  e-worc website |  LinkedIn

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

Just because you don't make a payment plan doesn't mean the Court can't make a payment plan at the DH office after the defendant is prosecuted. - Ashley Rich

You need to work with the bank because there can be a lot of security measures that they can put in place at the bank to make sure that hackers don't come in and hack your online banking as well. - Ashley Rich

Have any questions for the DA? Go to mobileda.org under our protecting the community tab, and it will walk you through every step of the way of what you have to do, including the forms for you to use. - Ashley Rich

You've got to think about the circumstances of the next business that your dishonest employee is going to go to work for if you don't criminally prosecute them. - Ashley Rich

If you suspect something is going on, the first thing I would do is do a forensic audit. - Ashley Rich

If you suspect employee theft have your accountant or an auditor come in immediately, and do just a quick audit. - Ashley Rich

Cheers to the Mobile business community, and the continued advancement of this economy. The prosperity that we're seeing, I think we've only scratched the surface. - Bill Sisson

In this episode, Karen and guest host Michelle Crowe talk with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bill Sisson. Bill gives us his insights and the lay of the land for the Mobile, Alabama business environment. He also shares all the leadership resources available, networking opportunities, and all the ways for a local business to get the most out of their local chamber. Plus, Michelle Crowes explains how "Mobile is really a small town that acts like a big city" and why that a good thing.

This episode is sponsored by Payroll Vault - Mobile, Alabama
Click here to schedule your FREE Payroll Audit with Cadie.

Key Takeaways

Your local Chamber of Commerce has a ton of FREE educational and leadership resources to help grow your business.

When considering a Chamber membership, always think about what do you want to get out of your membership.

The most significant change in Mobile has been more and more focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.

Competition is good, don't see other people as competition. Consider feeding your market.

Don't stay in your bubble. Think about how large your business market can be.

Resources

Bill Sisson -  Twitter  |  LinkedIn

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce  -  Website  |   Facebook

Michelle Crowe  -  e-worc website |  LinkedIn

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

It's hard to define business chambers because each one takes on the character of whatever community in which they're located.

A chamber is only as good as its membership, and we would not be a chamber without that membership.

Over 95% of businesses are classified as small in the Mobile, Alabama, metropolitan region.

When considering a Chamber membership, always think about what do you want to get out of that membership. Then let us see if we can help you connect in the ways that will be a value add for you and your business. We are a large Chamber and have a big portfolio of opportunities for people to get involved.

We have this tremendous talent here in the Mobile community. Really smart people are working very hard in various sectors. I think that's something to be proud of.

The most significant change in Mobile has been more and more focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. The entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Mobile has exceeded my expectations in ways that I would have never imagined.

There are some 28,000 micro-businesses in this area, and this shows me that we have a lot of pent up demand for entrepreneurial activity.

What's unique about Mobile is that people are willing to work together and ready to come to the table together. And even though we're a fairly large metropolitan area, we culturally work like a small town.

You don't talk about people in Mobile because it's a big small town. Somebody knows somebody.

I've been here going on 17 years, and I still have every week have what I call a Mobile Moment where I realized that somebody is related to somebody, or is an ex-wife, or a best friend.

What I like about the Mobile Business community is that people feel like they can be a part of something here.

I think everybody truly wants to help each other out.

I have found tenfold that if you help somebody else succeed, you're succeeding.

Our phrase at the office is that we are a small town acting like a big city.

The Mobile Mayor is everywhere, and I'm starting to wonder if there's more than one of them.

I often hear that from newcomers to Mobile is just how connected everybody is here.

I think we do that through entrepreneurship, and making sure that minority businesses that are starting up are getting the support network that they need to be successful so that we can grow that part of our population.

Let's not be in a bubble. We need to be thinking about how large our market can be.

What a lot of people are surprised about mobile is just how international it is. Eight of our top 10 manufacturers are internationally based. We have a lot of people from other countries that live here. So our market is global. And our small businesses need to realize that as well.

Anybody who says there's nothing to do in Mobile, they're not trying to find something to do.

We weren't made to be confined by 4 walls. Life and business are a giant adventure. Join me. And don't just think outside the box, completely destroy it. - Brooks Conkle

On this episode, Karen talks with raconteur Brooks Conkle, founder of The Mobile Rundown and Gulf Coast BizCon. Brooks has built his brand on using social media to show all the things he is doing and spotlighting exciting activities and other things other Mobilians are doing. Check out Brooks's story of living and working large and always "destroying the box."

Key Takeaways:

1. Keep creating, keep thriving, and keep enjoying life. 

2. Do what you have to do so you can get to do what you want to do.

3. Collaborate with others and use your media to spotlight others.

Resources

Brooks Conkle  -  Website  |  Twitter 

Mobile Rundown  -  Website  |   Facebook

This episode is sponsored by Payroll Vault - Mobile, Alabama
Click here to schedule your FREE Payroll Audit with Cadie.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

This is Part 2 of the power of digital marketing with Mr. X. Mr. X gives Karen more strategic advice for using targeted Facebook ads to increase your lead generations and increase sales conversions. Plus, Karen gets some specific marketing tactics on setting up a website that sells, filling a sales funnel, and getting the most bang for your marketing dollars.

Check out Ep.55: The Power of Digital Marketing with Mr.X >>> Click Here

Key Takeaways

Focus your marketing on sales conversions, not just branding.

Build a website that not only tells but sells.

Know your core customer, how to find them, and how to get them in your sales funnel.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

A digital paid ad is going to take your customer to your website. From there, you're going to need to have repeated exposures. And that's called a sales funnel. - Mr.X

After you've done this paid advertising and a lead gets to the website, your website should be able to make a sale. It must be able to accept a payment or at least get them into some type of telephone sales or contact situation. - Mr.X

Set up a buy now, call me, or request a meeting button on your website. It needs to be straightforward and easy; otherwise, you're going to run customers off. - Mr.X

Determine who your core buyers are and then go to Facebook and use their interest to target your ads to that specific market. Your ads will convert more. - Mr.X

A lot of parents ask, "how's it like to hang out with Matt Damon?" And he puts his pants on just like everyone else. He smells like spit up just like everyone else when they have a little one in the house. So, I saw the same we're all just parents. - Nanny Connie

In this special episode, Karen and Cadie get parenting, social media, and business advice from published author, Instagram influencer, and 30-plus-year nanny to the stars, Nanny Connie. With her amazing managing daughter Courtney, Nanny Connie discusses how she is teaching America about parenting, her new book, their mother/daughter work dynamic, and how she is growing her media and social influence business. Sit back and enjoy this fascinating and fun interview, and remember what nanny Connie says, "don't be so hard on yourself, do the best you can with the tools you have, and just be the parent."

Buy Nanny Connie's Book: The Nanny Connie Way: Secrets to Mastering the First Four Months of Parenthood

Key Takeaways:

You can turn your God-given gifts and calling into a business.

We all need to do more to help parents than judging other parents.

When it comes to parenting, we are all just doing our best, and we all could use help, even the rich and famous.

The Mother/Daughter work dynamic can be complicated, tricky, and also very rewarding.

Resources:

Nanny Connie  -  Website  |  Instagram

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

It's been amazing to see parents from all walks of lives, get themselves together, and see that they are parents and understand parenting. - Nanny Connie

Parents do not have the confidence in themselves that they should have. They are not taking the time to talk to their children like they should. - Nanny Connie

I'm sorry. No, no, no, no, you did not suck as a mother. You did the best that you could as a mother with the tools that you had. And our kids need to understand that and adjust themselves and get into place. - Nanny Connie

Parents used to have a lot of carried a lot of clout. It doesn't carry that important anymore. We've let it dwindle because now we give our kids so much. - Nanny Connie

We need to do more helping parents as opposed to looking at parents and why is that child crying in the grocery store. - Nanny Connie

We have swung the pendulum way to the left and to the right. But the middle ground has always been the place for people to thrive. - Nanny Connie

There's good and evil, and they have to meet in the middle. One can't live without the other, and we have to understand that we do need each other. We have to get out of our corners and come back to the middle. - Nanny Connie

When your gift is your gift, and there's nothing that you can change about it. Nobody can take it away from you. - Courtney Simpson

Business owners need to know that their advertising money is being spent to acquire customers and not just be reaching some random Facebook profiles. A Facebook post boost isn't actually acquiring customers. All it does is just increase your brand awareness. Focus on sales conversion, not on branding. Think about your customers and figure out who your core buyer is. Then, go to Facebook and segment and target your audience with their known interests with your digital ads to convert more. Turning paid advertising into profits is the most profitable skill any business owner or a digital marketer can have today. - Mr. X

In this episode, Karen talks with the mysterious and digital marketing svengali, Mr. X. Because of some double-secret probation legal entanglements, Karen cannot reveal Mr. X's name, but trust her when she says you will get a ton of knowledge from this guest. Learn what makes digital marketing so lucrative, why a business needs to look into these powerful marketing tools, and how to get started turning your ads into new customers and revenue.

Key Takeaways:

The three components of digital marketing: content marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and paid media.

Digital paid advertising is the most valuable asset that a business owner can have today.

Branding advertising is about getting awareness out. Digital Marketing is converting a customer.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Karen and Cadie talk with survivor, author, public speaker, and businesswoman Elizabeth Smart. They discuss who Elizabeth Smart is today, how she manages her media and speaker career, and how she turned being a victim into victory. Plus, the Cheers ladies give their thoughts on Elizabeth's recent FOCUS Women's Conference keynote address, and why "profit" shouldn't be a bad word in the not-for-profit world.

Buy Elizabeth Smart's Books

Key Takeaways:

From the ashes of tragedy, Elizabeth Smart writes, produces, and speaks out about sexual assault to help others, grow a movement, and build a business media empire based on inspiration and courage.

Be kind and fight every day for yourself and what you believe.

Make choices in life to grow, be positive, and help others on their business and life journey.

Not-for-profit business models can be stronger and have more impact when they are viewed and run like a for-profit business model.

Resources:

Elizabeth Smart  |  Website

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Are you giving your employees the right environment to be the most productive? Are you presenting your brand properly to your customers and the customers that you want? On this episode, Karen discusses the importance of first impressions, consistent branding, and marketing a legendary local brand with McAleers Office Furniture President Melissa Cross. Melissa is a business development maven that has built a furniture sales and consulting business that has evolved with the industry and with the changes in office furniture sales and marketing.

Check out McAleers Office Furniture
Tell them Karen & Cadie sent you!

Key Takeaways:

The perception of your customer is essential. Your office and office furniture reflect on your brand and reputation.

Evolve your marketing to work the best for you and your audience.

The right office furniture can increase worker productivity, limit workplace injury, and ensure positive first impressions.

Cheers To These

Ergonomics is so important. Facilities managers need to make sure that they get office furniture that can fit a large range of people because of workers comp claims. - Melissa Cross

You could have to have surgery because you're sitting at your desktop wrong. - Melissa Cross

If you want people to buy into you, then everything around you needs to reflect you. - Karen Simmons

My Dad misses seeing McAleers on TV, but I see my marketing dollars better spent somewhere else. - Melissa Cross

We've grown our business year over year, and it's through marketing. - Melissa Cross

I'm a big advocate for the Mobile Chamber of Commerce. The things they offer. I mean, I couldn't have done what I'm doing now without them. - Melissa Cross

Our staff is going to get at the heart of who are the customers you're trying to attract, and what kind of industry you're in, and what look you're going for. - Melissa Cross

Strong leaders are not afraid to ask for what we want. I always say I'm never the smartest person in the room. - Melissa Cross

The best thing you do is surround yourself with people that are smarter than you. - Karen Simmons

The perception of your customer is essential. You can't stick some folding chairs in a doctor's waiting room and expect patients to come back. - Karen Simmons

Do you really want a CPA that drives a Pinto? No. It's okay to look successful. - Karen Simmons

Older companies and newer companies forget how important it is to carry their branding throughout their customer experience, and you can do that with office furniture. There are affordable things that can help you reflect the "you" that you want to show the world. There's a lot of options out there, and you don't need to bust the bank to do it. - Melissa Cross

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

In this episode, Karen talks with show producer Johnny Gwin about content marketing, podcasting, and becoming a local celebrity to grow your brand and business. Content marketing is any entertaining and informative digital media that makes your audience know you, connect with you, and drives them to become a fan and customer. In this day and age, we all need to think of ourselves as media companies as well as doctors, accountants, and artists. Johnny shares his podcasting secrets, personal branding insights, and what it takes to be the digital mayor of your town.

Learn more about and hear more DEEP FRIED STUDIO shows

Takeaways:

Content marketing educates, connects, and fascinates your audience to want to know more about you or buy from you.

Content media is delivered to your audience by social media.

Content marketing is real, raw and authentic but always on brand and made with purpose.

Share your wins, challenges, and real you.

Like any advertising and branding, there must be a trackable return on investment.

Content Marketing is anything that you put out into the world that connects you with the people you want to be connected to you.

Cheers:

Content marketing is the stuff you make with a plan that you put out into the world. It's organic advertising messages meant to send people to your website or to your store to convert them into a sale or a fan. - Johnny Gwin

Social media is the delivery system upon which content media is delivered to you. Content marketing is the meat of the sandwich. - Johnny Gwin

I want your content to make you a local celebrity. Yes, you're selling yourself, but you're doing in a way where I just can't quit looking at your stuff. - Johnny Gwin

Print ads, TV, Facebook ads, or Google AdWords only gives you eyeballs and awareness, but it doesn't make me connect to you. - Johnny Gwin

Content marketing is not just willy nilly posts on Facebook or Twitter. You have to know what you want to portray to the world and what your company is and what it does. - Johnny Gwin

I want you to think like you are a media company. If you sell shoes, you sell shoes, and you're a media company. That means you have your own TV station, your own radio station, your own magazine. - Johnny Gwin

Your TV station is Facebook Live. Your Radio station is your podcast. Your magazine is Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. - Johnny Gwin

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Are you leaving money on the table year after year by not having the right retirement plan? In this episode, Karen talks with the Mobile, Alabama employer, employee, and personal retirement plans TPA specialist Crystal Sears of Azalea Administration. Crystal explains the ins and outs of all the options employers and employees have with 401(k) and other retirement plans and how to get started saving for your future. Plus, learn why setting up an employee plan is one of the best ways to hire, motivate, and keep your best team members.

Learn more about Crystal Sears and Azalea Administration, LLC.

Takeaways:

1. Pay yourself first. A 401(k) plan is it's a way to save money, but you're saving it for yourself.

2. Compete for top talent. Employee retirement plans for your help you find, motivate and keep your best employees.

3. Retirement plan management can be complicated. Hire a qualified third-party administrator to set-up and manage your company retirement plans.

4. Pay for good financial advisors. Cheap index funds won't cost you a lot of money, but they won't make you any money either.

5. Find the right TPA. Start the retirement plan process with your CPA, Accounting Department, or your HR department.

 
Cheers To These:

First, talk to your CPA or financial advisor when setting up your personal or company's retirement plans and 401(k). - Crystal Sears


Your CPA or financial advisor will advise you on if a 401(k) plan is something you need to do or something that you should do. - Crystal Sears


If you're a business owner, and you do not have a 401k plan, you better call somebody because everything helps. - Crystal Sears


Once you start getting employees, you better have a 401k plan; and if you don't, it's like not offering them health benefits or anything else. - Crystal Sears


Pay yourself first, a 401k plan is it's a way to save money, but you're saving it to yourself. - Crystal Sears


If you start putting it away after a little while, you're not going to miss that money that you're putting away in your 401(k) - Karen Simmons


Retirement plans are the best thing for an employer because you want your people to be able to retire. You don't want to be paying health benefits to a 72-year-old employee because they can't retire because you didn't have a retirement plan. - Crystal Sears


You can get some cheap index funds that aren't going to cost you anything, but you're not going to get a return either. - Crystal Sears


Pay a good financial advisor to pick your retirement funds for you and make some money. - Crystal Sears


I've always seen offering a 401(k) plan for your staff is like giving them a raise. - Karen Simmons


A 401k plan has a tax return just like your company, and you got to know what you're doing to put that thing together, so hire a reputable TPA to make sure it's done right. - Crystal Sears
 

This show is sponsored by Crystal Sears and Azalea Administrators.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut

Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties