By Christina Robinson
Who knew being a business owner would be so lonely? It’s not all glitz and glamour - there are hard lessons to learn and a shift in mindset that no one can prepare you for…
Or can they???
... more
The podcast currently has 94 episodes available.
In this episode, Christina explores the importance of effectively communicating the experience of working with your business through social media content. She emphasizes the need to balance industry-related insights with the direct promotion of services and products. Christina shares practical strategies for showcasing behind-the-scenes moments, client interactions, and testimonials to build authenticity and trust. She also discusses the value of case studies and educational content in demonstrating expertise and creating emotional connections with potential clients.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
It's important to balance industry-related content that addresses pain points with content that directly promotes your services or products.
Sharing behind-the-scenes insights, such as daily operations and client interactions, can effectively communicate the experience of working with your business.
Collecting and sharing testimonials, especially in video format, can enhance credibility and trust. Highlighting client stories and their successes can provide valuable insights to potential clients.
Detailed case studies that outline challenges, solutions, and specific services used can demonstrate the effectiveness of your offerings and showcase your problem-solving abilities.
Sharing educational content, such as tips and insights, positions you as an expert while also illustrating how your services have positively impacted clients, fostering an emotional connection with your audience.
BEST MOMENTS
"Testimonials can work really, really well. And I think when you can capture them in that way, where there's a bit of joint value there, that's even more impactful."
"It's not just about positioning yourself as an expert. It's not just about selling your stuff. It's about creating an emotional response in people. And let's face it, I would hope you do what you do because you love it."
" 'Oh my god, like it actually works, you guys know your shit'. That's a direct quote, by the way."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
In this episode, Christina interviews Kane Baron, an expert in the world of podcasting and a prolific member of Progressive Media. They discuss the journey of podcasting, the challenges new podcasters face, and how to make a podcast successful. Kane shares his personal experience of transitioning from a law degree to digital marketing and eventually into podcasting. He emphasizes the importance of consistency, building a back catalogue, and engaging with the audience through competitions and giveaways.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Building up a back catalog of content is crucial to avoid running out of content and maintain consistency.
Tying a relaunch to a specific reason, such as an anniversary or a special event, can help create momentum and interest.
Hosting a competition or giveaway related to the podcast's target audience can incentivize listeners to engage and potentially convert into paying customers.
YouTube is predicted to become a central platform for podcasts, emphasizing the importance of incorporating video content into podcast strategies.
While AI content may be useful in the short term, it is expected to lose effectiveness over time, highlighting the importance of authentic and engaging content creation.
BEST MOMENTS
"The number one way to monetize it is selling your own stuff. It leads into your business 100%."
"Podcast downloads are anonymous, so nobody can see it. So Apple charts is like the UK top 40, right? Every Sunday that you've released your top 40, there's some sort of credibility."
"YouTube will be the future of podcasting for sure."
"Rob wanted the benefit of the staff and people doing all the hard work and the difficult things with podcasting and social media for him. He just wanted to interview people he found interesting, and he wanted to make a living doing it. And then basically, in comes me, and he was like, oh, cool, you manage these things. And I'll go out on the road and I'll record all these podcasts."
"I was struggling to make the time to sit down and record my solo episodes. I kind of, I felt like I'd peaked with guests and I'd had some amazing people on."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Kane's Instagram
Kane's LinkedIn
Email: [email protected]
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
In this episode, Christina considers the power of asking the simple yet impactful question, "What can I do for you?" She emphasizes how this question shifts the focus from oneself to the person being asked, making the conversation more about them. Christina discusses how asking this question in various contexts, such as sales, marketing, and personal relationships, can lead to more personalized and tailored interactions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Asking "What can I do for you?" is a powerful question that shifts the focus onto the other person, making the conversation about their needs and desires.
This question can be used in various contexts, such as sales, marketing, relationships, and even with family members, to show genuine interest in helping and supporting others.
By asking this question, one can tailor their services or assistance to meet specific needs, creating a more personalized and impactful interaction.
Acting on the answer received from asking this question not only feels good but also demonstrates authenticity and selflessness in helping others.
Incorporating this question into conversations can empower the dialogue, create intentional support, and ultimately strengthen relationships and connections.
BEST MOMENTS
"What can I do for you? It shifts the focus from you to the person you're talking to. It makes the conversation about them."
"If someone does something for me, I'm asking, you know, it's one thing to say thank you, but to follow that up with, is there something I can do for you?"
"It's massively powerful. Business-wise, asking that question can just empower the whole conversation that you're having and is something I invite you to do."
"It's so powerful in terms of building relationships with people, not just your clients, but all of your contacts, even with family members."
"It's massively powerful. Business-wise, asking that question can just empower the whole conversation that you're having and is something I invite you to do."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
In today's episode, Christina interviews Stewart Roberts, owner of Maia Kai, on the importance of understanding finances in business. Stewart shares his extensive experience in the back office accounts and funding side of recruitment for over 24 years. He highlights the value of non-exec finance advisory services for recruitment agencies and emphasizes the need for directors to have a solid grasp of their financials.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
It's crucial for businesses to prioritize understanding their finances from the very beginning.
Hiring a non-executive financial director can provide valuable insights and guidance, even for smaller businesses.
Monthly management accounts can help businesses stay on top of their numbers and make informed decisions.
Outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping, accounting, and IT can be cost-effective and efficient for businesses of all sizes.
Accountants should not only provide financial services but also actively help businesses succeed and grow.
BEST MOMENTS
"I think people think if they get these softwares it's going to actually eliminate the need of their accountant."
"I always say to get monthly management accounts. I know a lot of people would say quarterly. I think monthly, really, you've got to know what your numbers are on a month by month basis."
"I think that accountability piece is really important, especially in those smaller organisations, when there's no one to have those hard conversations with."
"People don't understand things like VAT, corporation tax and things like that, so what they will quite often do is they'll look at their bank account and use that as a judgment on how successful their business is."
"I've had some bad luck with accountants, right? And a big part of that was over-reliance on automation by the accountant without something strong enough on my part, as well as theirs, to make sure that where we were relying on automation, that things were getting picked up, checked."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
In this episode, Christina shares her insights and experiences on how to secure speaking gigs and grow as a speaker. She refers to the importance of building a personal brand, networking with other speakers, and how this can help create opportunities for oneself. Christina discusses the value of offering unique and valuable content to event organizers, as well as the significance of starting small and gradually moving up to larger stages.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Dedicate time and effort into building a personal brand to attract speaking opportunities.
Sometimes you need to create your own speaking opportunities, whether in-person or online, to showcase your expertise.
Deliver webinars and create video content to showcase your speaking abilities and attract speaking gigs.
Reach out to event organizers, podcast hosts, and other speakers to build relationships and secure speaking opportunities.
Begin with smaller speaking engagements and gradually move up to larger stages, investing time and effort in your speaking journey.
BEST MOMENTS
"I dedicated a lot of time and a lot of effort into building a personal brand. I looked for those opportunities to connect with other speakers, to see where they were speaking, to ask them about their contacts."
"Sometimes you need to create your own stages. And again, I put a lot of time and effort into that."
"So putting content out there of you on stage, of you presenting a webinar is one thing. Another way you can do this is actually just recording your video content."
"Reach out to people with podcasts. Reach out to me. If you think you've got something of value to offer my audience, reach out to me."
"Getting on those stages has brought me massive opportunity, has introduced me to some magnificent people and overall has helped me to grow my brand as Christina and also my business brand as well."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
Today, Christina speaks with Jeff Mask, a CEO coach. Jeff shares his personal experiences and professional insights on leadership, purpose, kindness, and self-awareness. Throughout the episode, Jeff emphasizes the importance of leading with love, being kind to oneself, and understanding that challenges are not as dire as they may seem internally. He also discusses the significance of finding one's purpose and being at peace with the past to create a fulfilling future.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Kindness is not a weakness, but rather a display of abundant strength. It involves clarity, conviction, and love, allowing for difficult conversations and decisions to be made with compassion.
Being kind to oneself is crucial for personal growth and well-being. It involves treating oneself with the same compassion and understanding as one would offer to others.
Having a clear vision of the future helps in navigating through present challenges and struggles. It provides meaning to the obstacles faced and motivates progress.
Leadership and love go hand in hand, with love being a powerful motivator for inspiring growth and change in others. Leading with love fosters trust, confidence, and positive relationships.
It's important to remember that things are never as bad as they seem from the inside or as good as they appear from the outside. Every individual and business faces challenges and imperfections, highlighting the importance of self-compassion and perspective.
BEST MOMENTS
"I love to help CEOs confidently grow their business without losing their mind, losing their priorities, losing their soul."
"The more at peace we can be with our past, the more we can create a great future."
"Kindness isn't weakness. Kindness is abundant strength."
"It's never as bad as it feels from the inside and never as good as it looks from the outside."
"Kindness is clarity. Kindness is conviction. Kindness is love."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
In this episode, Christina delves into the topic of achieving virality on LinkedIn. She emphasizes the importance of personal content, discussing trending topics, building an engaged network, timing of posts, and utilizing various content formats. Christina provides valuable insights on creating hooks to draw in the audience and shares practical tips for maximizing engagement on the platform.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Share real photos, videos, and passion to connect with your audience on a personal level.
Utilize trending stories on LinkedIn and mainstream media to create relevant content that sparks engagement.
Connect with individuals who share mutual interests and potential business opportunities to increase engagement.
Experiment with posting times to determine when your audience is most active and engaged.
Utilize various content formats on LinkedIn, such as text-only posts, videos, carousels, polls, and articles, to keep your audience engaged and interested.
BEST MOMENTS
"LinkedIn's one of those platforms where people are kind of almost scared of it. And I don't know why, because it's no different to anywhere else."
"Personal content is all about real photos, real videos, people seeing the whites of your eyes, the smile on your face, and being able to engage in you in that way."
"If you are just constantly connecting, connecting, connecting, connecting with anyone and everyone, you're probably not going to have an engaged network."
"Timing is another one as well. Pay attention to the timing that works for you. You will find there's particular times of the day, perhaps, or days of the week, where when you post those moments, that's when you see more engagement happening."
"What's that first line of text in that post? What is that caption on that photo? When you are recording your video, what's the first line out of your mouth that people are going to see there?"
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
In this episode, Christina interviews Neville Wright, a successful entrepreneur who started a business with just 37 pence and grew it to a value of £200 million. They discuss Neville's journey, from his struggles with dyslexia and ADHD to building a thriving retail business, Kiddy Care. Neville shares his own insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the importance of creating a positive customer experience.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Neville Wright's journey exemplifies the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset, where he started with just 37 pence and built a business worth millions by saying "yes" to opportunities and challenges.
The focus on providing an exceptional customer experience was evident in Neville's approach to retail, where he emphasized creating a welcoming environment, offering assistance, and anticipating customer needs.
Neville's emphasis on training and developing his employees, recognizing their individual strengths, and empowering them to take responsibility contributed to the success of his business.
The implementation of systematic processes and procedures, from training employees to managing suppliers and customers, played a crucial role in the growth and success of Neville's business.
Neville's ability to adapt to changing circumstances, embrace new technologies like online retail, and innovate in response to challenges highlights the importance of flexibility and creativity in business.
BEST MOMENTS
"I wasn't very good at school. That was one of the main drivers, I think."
"Life's not fair. And yeah, so it got to rock bottom and I do think very often people are not low enough in a way or desperate enough to make a difference to their lives."
"Forget I can't, focus on I can."
"People forget the basics. They go to the seminar and they read the book and they listen to the podcast and they're going through all this shiny stuff and they forget the basics."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
In this episode, Christina discusses her hiatus and the overwhelming feeling of taking on too much. She reflects on the pressure she felt to keep up with the podcast, her main business, and other ventures, leading to a sense of failure. However, she shares a valuable lesson she learned about looking back at her journey and focusing on the next steps rather than the current obstacles. The host expresses her excitement to be back, ready to share intimate thoughts and insights with her audience. She teases upcoming guests who are either inspirational, motivating, or experts in their fields, promising to deliver valuable content that will resonate with listeners.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
It's important to recognize when you need a break and prioritize self-care to avoid burnout.
Instead of focusing on current challenges, reflect on how far you've come since starting and the successes you've achieved.
Break down tasks into manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed and maintain a positive mindset.
Embrace the freedom of expression and ownership that comes with personal platforms like podcasts to share openly and authentically.
Surround yourself with inspirational and motivating individuals who can trigger positive changes and growth in your own journey.
BEST MOMENTS
"I had not been recording episodes. I'd not been booking in guests. And the weeks had passed where I'd not published a podcast."
"I felt like a failure. I felt the worst thing in the world, which was that I felt that I'd let myself down."
"I forgot about all those successes. I forgot about the speaking gigs that I was booked for and paid for because someone had heard me on the podcast."
"I looked at it as: I've got to record all these episodes. I've got to get all these guests. And that overwhelm just fueled that negative spin I had going on."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
https://twitter.com/christinamc80?lang=en-gb
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarobinson2/?originalSubdomain=uk
HOST BIO
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know how to use them!
Join host Christina as she interviews Martin Mason, a talent and diversity and inclusion specialist. Martin shares how he helps organisations improve their recruitment, talent, and D&I practices. They discuss the difference between diversity initiatives that are tokenistic versus intentional. Martin explains important but not yet mainstream concepts like social mobility and how organizations can remove unnecessary barriers to create more equity. He provides insights on how businesses can foster inclusive cultures through education, seeking diverse perspectives, and focusing on desired outputs. Martin talks about trends like neurodiversity and leveraging different talent pools. He also introduces his company's new tech platform, Talent Mapper, which helps businesses understand their existing workforce capabilities.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
BEST MOMENTS
"It's not in the mainstream because people don't realize that they need to take some responsibility to fix this."
"You've got to go to the right advisors."
"The smart businesses are the ones that are seeing it as a long term investment, because if you can outthink your competition and innovate, then your business is sustainable."
"Stay curious and educated. The more that you can keep your mind open and learn, the better it will be."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Christina Talks Podcast
https://www.green-umbrella.biz/how-to-launch-anything-using-social-media/
ABOUT THE HOST
Christina has been working with SME’s since 2013 to launch, develop and perfect their online presence. In 2019 Christina made the move from employee to business owner of a successful digital marketing agency focused on educating business owners in the use of
social media. Christina is driven by the fact that in today’s world, it doesn’t
matter how big or small your marketing budget is, you can be a major player.
For small businesses, the tools are just as accessible – you just need to know
how to use them!
Website
The podcast currently has 94 episodes available.