Practical Bizz Podcast

This week, we are joined by CPA Anthony Ricci as we discuss his best pro-tax tips for your small business to end your 2022 year strong. We dig into understanding the tax implications of your small business entity selection. The best software for your bookkeeping and why bookkeeping data is critical to use as a snapshot of your business's current financials and how to use the projects to make adjustments. We uncover many common tax deduction mistakes — what's a true deductible vs. what isn't. Understanding financial reports and how to utilize them to guide your business to success. We even find out this account's favorite type of ice cream, so don't miss this sweet episode 

In this week's episode, Erica sits down with Natalie Delmage from Insperity, an industry leader in providing human resources services to businesses of all sizes. Many business owners are scratching their heads, trying to figure out how to build and retain a talented workforce as we approach 2023. This topic has challenged many businesses over the past three years. Don't believe the headlines, people want to work, but they want to work where they feel valued and part of the bigger picture. You have a massive advantage if you can move the right talent into the right seats on your "bus." Your business must invest in providing a great human resource department if you have employees, whether you do it in-house or hire out to have help in the back end of your business. Today we are not talking about the paperwork, although essential, but the resources of people; once you have found great talent, how do you keep them and grow them to be leaders in your company and your community? One important point is happy, professional, trained employees make happy, repeat customers. Tune in and find out more in this week's episode of Practical BizZ.

Key Points

• Grow your employees into your business, not out of it
• A great onboarding process is critical for setting people up for success.
• Employe with diversity in mind
• Understanding where your employees are at this stage in their life
• Company culture matters
• Provide opportunities for people to try new things within your business. Both parties might be surprised by what talents you will find.

James Homes said, " The art of communication is the language of leadership." Today's guest is Ron Nussbaum, founder, and CEO of Nutnest, a communication platform where homeowners can find increased communication with their contractors. Shedding light on the importance of communication between your employees and customers and how excellent communication can lead to happy employees and improve customer satisfaction and customer retention. Now we know you may or may not be in the construction industry. Still, the key components of clear communication and how it drives your business forward to generate more leaders and referrals and create lifelong customers are not missed in this episode, so tune in for this casual but interesting episode of Practical BizZ.

Key Points
Effective Communication In the Workplace
Customer Retention
Service Industry Building Ideas
Construction Support
Leadership Skill
Engagement Building Ideas
Communication Is A Two Way Process
Lead With Clarity To Run  Your Business

There are four areas that business owners must focus on to dramatically increase their sales and profits in their business. It is easy to blame lackluster sales on "needing more customers." But if you can master all four tried, and true techniques, your customer base and sales will continue to grow while you master your sales skills, methods, processes, systems, and operations.

 4 Areas of Focus

1.  Do more business with existing customers, AKA "Increase Frequency."

           a) Set measurable sales goals

           b) Understand your customer

           c) Remove obstacles and blocks

           d) Create an automated system for restocking or repeat business

     2.Increases the dollar amount of each transaction. AKA " What add-on services or products can you offer the customer?"

            a)Provide products and services you can add on that are complementary to your primary products/ services

            b) Use your 5 senses to enhance the product and service and let high-quality items create an experience that sells itself

           c) How to create bundle packages to increase the ticket items available for sale and help the customer put items together that they may not have thought otherwise.

           d) Create exclusive events, offers, and signature products only available at your business that builds value and profits

     3.Connect with new customers, new markets, and new business relationships. AKA " Be visible, network, and be consistent."

          a) Great Website

          b) Blogs and other content that drives new customers to your point of purchase

         c)Create urgency with limited offers

   4.Increase your prices or lower your expenses, AKA "Keep more of the profit."

         a) What is your advantage

         b) Doing what you love and making a profit on that

         c)Understanding more sales does not mean more profit

         D)Getting the best pricing on your raw costs and over head to maximize your bottom line

Thomas Edison said," Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning." If you are a frequent listener, you will often hear our host and guests mention the importance of creating a business plan. When you have a well-thought-out business plan, you can have an advantage over your competition and give your team direction and a shared vision. A business plan supports the business owner and becomes a valuable guide to running day-to-day business operations, setting goals and objectives, hitting sales goals, and keeping costly mistakes at a minimum. The number 10 reasons for business failure are all addressed in a business plan, so our question is, if you could stack the odds of success in your favor by being prepared, why would you wait? 

Items discussed

1. Top reasons businesses fail- Lack of planning, lack of money, or money mismanagement, not keeping up with customer needs or the competition, growing too quickly, not being able to pivot when needed, lack of research or not understanding the industry trends, noneffective marketing plan, not having the right people in place.
2. Executive Summary
3. Company Description
4. Market Research
5. Organization & Management
6. Products and Services
7. Identify your Target Customer
8. Marketing Plan
9. Operations Plan
10. Financial Plan

Own a business? Or are you looking to open a business?

Well, if you said yes to either of those questions, this channel is for you. We created this podcast to help people grow their businesses and or start the business they have been putting off. We created this channel and podcast to give you all easily relatable stories that look inside the ups and downs of owning a business or the wisdom that could only be learned through experience. Want to see in-person interviews and a put face with a name? Please hop over to our YouTube Channel at 

Do you have a website, and your phones are not ringing? Do you know if your website site has the best SEO possible? Does your website show your business in the best possible light? Can your customer visit your website, book with you, and pay immediately, or do they need to wait for a call or email to move the transition forward? If you do not know the answers to those questions above or you don't like the answers, then you should turn to this week's episode. Erica is joined by David Somerfleck, marketing specialist and website designer, to discuss the importance of a professional website and SEO. Businesses that work with a professional website designer will have increased sales and can level the playing field when competing with larger companies. A great website can help you build your customer base and provide a consistent flow of new leads and customers by building your marketing list. We know the importance of customer retention. You can use your website and email list to provide timely customer service, booking, and payment options providing convivence right to your customers' fingertips. Investing in a remarkable website helps you bring revenue into your business 24/7, even while you sleep.

Topics Highlighted

1. Providing booking and payment options online is a must for a professional business.
2. Understanding SEO is a game changer in how your customer finds your business.
3. Make the most of your marketing efforts by using local SEO by Zip code or hyper-local SEO
4. Using blogs and links to your website helps you get found by the right people.
5. Connecting your website to other businesses and your local chamber of commerce can help you get found quickly and provides plenty of networking opportunities to work with other companies. 
6. When planning events, advertise on many different platforms and give yourself at least a month or more to sell seats to ensure you have a full house.
7. How to use monthly newsletters, limited-time offers, coupons, free courses, and more to drive business to your website and business
8. Using a professional website helps business owners with higher sales conversations. Remember what one customer is worth to your business over a lifetime? How can a great website increase the number of customers who do business with you, and what would that mean for your bottom line?

Need help creating a professional presence on your current website, printed marketing materials, or social media platforms? Visit www.stellarbusinessconcepts.com for help with your digital needs. We offer professional product photography, video services, professional headshots, b- roll film, drone services, and audio services. Digital Content Services, Social Media Content, Promos| Stellar Business (stellarbusinessconcepts.com) 

Before tuning into this episode, we recommend you listen to last week's episode. "8 Customer Retention Tips That Build Your Brand and Your Bank Account." In this week's episode, Erica shares her perspective on collecting customer reviews and testimonials as one of the most effective ways to increase trust in your brand. While spotlighting the importance of answering the phone and how, when done correctly, it can help any business increase sales and expand their customer base and brand awareness while costing nothing more than a few hours of your time.

Areas Covered/ Level Beginner & Intermediate

1) Building consistent positive reviews on multiple review platforms inspires trust and confidence in your products and service.

2) Stats on how positive reviews equates to more sale and higher closing rates for your business.

3) What review platforms are best for your industry and what are the top seven reviews sites your business must be on to grow?

4) Looking to attract top talent? Employees use reviews to make decisions and gauge company culture. 

5)Identifying industry-specific review sites can give you a competitive edge.

6) How to use reviews beyond marketing, free market research

7) Where and how to use reviews once you start gathering feedback

8) How to have the best position for your business to be ready when a customer calls you 

9) Why not answering the phone cost you $$$$$

10) The best way to respond to a customer is when you can't answer the phone

11) Having suggestions and knowledge to help customers solve problems quickly

In this episode, business coach Erica Saccoccio shares why business owners should spend as much time caring for their current customers as they do seeking new prospects. If you are wondering the best way to make the most out of your existing business relationships, tune into this episode full of golden nuggets you can implement in your business today. If you have a business-to-business model or a business-to-consumer, you will see gains in your fanfare and bank account. So we implore you to stop looking for that next customer and cultivate the ones you have as one method to build customer loyalty and a strong brand. The stats do not lie did you know that " The closing rate to selling a product or service to a new customer is 5%-20%  in retrospect this percent is increased dramatically with a closing rate of 60%-70% when doing with an existing's customer." World Steam.

Areas Covered- Level Beginner/ Intermediate

1) Understanding the values of retaining just one customer over the life of that customer.

2) Understanding how to find opportunities to do more business with existing customers more frequently.

3) The importance of using your metrics to track customer retention and how to use this information to improve.

4)How keeping your customers happy builds your referral and review base, in turn bringing you more business and revenue.

5)Asking for feedback through surveys, phone calls, and secret shopping can help you improve your people, products, and processes. 

6)Providing a fantastic customer experience through touch points, training, and frequent follow-up.

7) Creating reward and loyal programs goes a long way in making your customers feel special. Offering sneak peeks, exclusive events, discounts, gifts, personalization of phone calls, postcards, and more.

8) Be responsive to customers, problem solve and be proactive if you see a problem coming for your customer. And for Pete's Sake, answer the phone!!!

Let's start with a quote from Roy T. Bennett " Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end." In this episode, we get an in-depth and personal look into the history of how business coaches, multilocation childcare business owners, and aspiring authors Erica and Christine turned family sadness and a worldwide pandemic into an opportunity to start their sixth and seventh business venture. If you love to know more about the stores of the people behind the brand, this episode is for you, especially if you are a start-up or business owner looking for professional guidance. Guest Edward Alves from People Resources joins host Erica Saccoccio as they share the four-year journey that has culminated in the creation of Stellar Business Concepts, Practical Bizz Podcast, and the Child Care Directors Chair YouTube Channel.

Description: Have you ever considered the benefits of starting a YouTube Channel to launch your business or spotlight your talents as an expert in your industry? This episode could be for you if you're looking for ways to expand your brand in the digital age. Did you know that YouTube currently shows 4 Billion videos daily? Still not convinced, YouTube is the world's second-largest search engine and the third most visited website. If your target market demo is between 18 to 34 years old, there is no better place to find your customers than YouTube. In this episode, we interview YouTube influencer and fashion designer Mariam Adepoju to discuss the following:

1. You are leaving money on the table if your business is not on YouTube.
2. You might consider using YouTube to create "How-To" videos and "Masterclasses" to build an audience.
3. Becoming an influencer in your niche can bring in a secondary revenue stream. You can showcase other people's products and services that may complement your business. Having a big enough audience you can earn money by having other companies' ads run on your videos. 
4. Do not create content just for the sake of creating; be strategic, plan, and intentionally coordinate with the launch of new products, holidays, promos, VIP events, and services. 
5. Think about the customer journey from start to end to reach your goals, and do not forget about your "Call to Action."
6. Don't have all day to make videos for every platform; think about how you can repurpose your content,
7. Consider using a blog, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms to draw an audience to your YouTube Channel who is interested in your topic. Combining your efforts is a great way to double down and get noticed by your target audience.
8. Mariam highlights the importance of consistency when building your channel, pre-planning, and having intentional content ready to go at a moment's notice.
9. The details of monetization
10. Thumbnail and banner considerations and much more ***** Hot Tip: Stay tuned for an upcoming episode on how to create the perfect thumbnail or banner for your YouTube channel with Derek Rodrigues from Three One Seven Studios

Own a business? Or are you looking to open a business?
Well,  if you said yes to either of those questions, then this channel is for you.
We created this podcast to help people grow their businesses and or to start the business they have been putting off. We created this channel and podcast to give you all, easily relatable stories that give inside looks at the ups and downs of owning a business or the wisdom that could only be learned through experience. Advice and step-by-step instructions on many other aspects of business are COMING SOON.

Guest: Mariam Adepoju
YouTube Channel: @Mariam Adepoju