Having a vision in your small business is critical for long term success. Today I discuss why it's important to set a vision and understand where your business is going. I also discuss the vision of this podcast Local Business Talk and what to expect going forward.

Ever wonder what it takes to build a mobile app for your small business? This is the hot trend in 2019 and many companies think they need an app to be successful. Today we talk with Taylor Korensky of Appsky about what it takes to design, build, and launch a mobile app from start to finish.

Recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent are all important aspects of small business. Sarah Moylan of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce joins Local Business Talk to discuss how the Chamber is helping the city attract more workers and make it a go-to place for top professionals. This is vital for small business growth and success!

A common marketing tactic in small business is to use scarcity and limited time offers to motivate customers to make a purchase. Today we talk about three ways to effectively use scarcity marketing in your small business and review a couple of questionable ways you want to avoid.

Selling can be difficult for small business owners. Whether you hire a sales professional or do the selling yourself, it can be a challenge to produce new revenue. Today we talk with Jamie Pieper about how to use buying behaviors to our advantage when selling. We also discuss how creating a vision larger than ourselves can fit our mission and fulfill our purpose as a small business.

Today's episode features Maddie Carson who made the decision to re-brand her small business to Carson's Cookie Fix. The prior business had been in existence for 40 years so it was not an easy decision! Maddie shares her story of how building processes, getting team members involved, and focusing on a specific product line lead to her success.

The art of active listening in small business is a skill many of us (including myself!) do not always practice. Active listening can help whether you are speaking with a customer, a new sales prospect, or one of your own employees. In this episode of Local Business Talk, I tell a story about active listening and discuss ways we can improve.

Employees bring various talents and skill sets to small businesses. Understanding how to use these strengths can help build an amazing culture and lead to new levels of success. Bank President Paul Olson joins us on this episode to discuss how Arbor Bank has used the Gallup Strengthfinders Program to significantly grow their business.

Small business owners receive a lot of sales emails and most of those miss the mark. It's all too common for an email to contain language and terms that do not make sense to the recipient. Today I discuss three EASY ways to improve your sales emails (especially if I am on your sales list!).

Starting a new business can be a daunting task. There are endless "to-dos" that include creating a concept, securing funding, marketing to customers and more. Jeremy Campbell of Apex Men's Clinic joins us today to share his journey and what it took to get his idea to reality.