Hey Small Business School! In today’s episode, I get to sit down with social media strategist Andrea Jones! She helps brands with bold personalities, bold opinions, and bold ideas make bold moves towards elevating their thought leadership and growing their business using the power of social media. Andrea and I discuss building authority online and how she’s navigating social media burnout while expecting her second child and so much more so let’s get into the episode!

Topics Covered:

• Andrea Jones' journey from early blogging and YouTube to becoming a sought-after thought leader in social media strategy. 
• Tips for small business owners on social media, including the importance of community and quality over quantity.
• Navigating burnout and algorithm changes on social media.
• Tips for effective social media engagement and social media networking. Spend 10 minutes a day actually commenting and engaging with others on each platform your business is on.
• Strategies for repurposing content and managing time spent on social media efficiently.

Bring the ‘social’ back to your social media! Andrea is a true OG social media expert with so much wisdom on all things marketing! Reach out to her on Instagram or through her website linked below!

Andrea’s Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlinedrea/
Website: https://onlinedrea.com/everything

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today's episode I want to talk about people pleasing. The fear of not being liked or disappointing others in your business is something that can really hold you back from scaling your business and finding freedom in entrepreneurs. Let’s get into a few tips to overcome this in your business!

Topics Covered:

• Acknowledging that it's impossible to please everyone and accepting that disappointment will happen.
• Embracing vulnerability and admitting mistakes to foster authenticity and trust within your team.
• Learning to say no gracefully to clients or customers without sacrificing professionalism or kindness.
• Offering alternative solutions or referrals when you're unable to meet someone's expectations.
• Recognizing the importance of delegating customer service responsibilities as your business grows to maintain momentum and focus on strategic growth.

You can’t serve everyone! Stop bending your back to please everyone in your business and start scaling your impact for those that align with your business’ direction! Reach out, I’d love to hear how you’ve overcome this challenge!

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Hey Small Business School! Today, we're diving into the ninth edition of The Boardroom series, where we roll up our sleeves and tackle actionable strategies to boost your business. Today’s topic is all about increasing your businesses revenue! It takes some time to build this muscle, so let’s jump into some steps that you can take today!

Topics Covered:

• Assess current marketing strategies, track results, and understand their impact on revenue and customer visibility.
• Leveraging Referrals; recognize the power of word-of-mouth marketing, and cultivate raving fans to drive business growth.
• Explore methods to increase income without inflating costs, such as offering new services, maintaining customer connections, and considering price adjustments.
• Reflect on ways to expand your offerings or services based on customer demand while avoiding unnecessary expenses or investments.
• Embrace regular reviews of marketing efforts, seek expert guidance when needed, and step out of your routine environment to gain fresh perspectives on your business strategy.

Weekly Challenge: Take a moment to review your current marketing efforts and identify areas for improvement. Set aside time each month to track the effectiveness of your strategies.

Small adjustments can lead to significant results in boosting your businesses revenue! Let's make it happen, please reach out if you have any questions!

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today's episode, I'm joined by Erin Sisko, founder of The Elleiance Network, Canada's fastest-growing membership based mastermind network for ambitious women entrepreneurs. Erin brings 20 years of corporate experience, mainly in commercial banking, along with a passion for entrepreneurship and empowering fellow businesswomen. She is also a licensed commercial real estate agent, certified business coach, investor, financial feminist, board member and director! I’m so excited to dive into our conversation!

Topics Covered:

• Erin's diverse background in corporate banking and entrepreneurship and overcoming fear and doubt.
• The importance of finding one's passion and aligning business activities with personal values.
• The misconception surrounding women's access to capital and the real challenges faced.
• The critical role of networking and building connections in business growth.
• The transformative power of community and the value of giving and receiving within a supportive network.

There is transformative power in communities of Women entrepreneurs and there is such value in giving and receiving within a supportive network! Connect with The Elleiance Network by joining the LinkedIn groups and reach out to Erin on Instagram!

Erin’s Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elle.iance/
Website: https://www.elleiance.ca/
Join The Elleiance Network free linkedin group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12499797/
Get one month of a business mastermind group free with code: IAMATEN

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Hey Small Business School! Welcome back to another episode. Today, we're diving into the topic of how to choose the perfect location for your business. Whether you're just starting out or thinking about expanding, finding the right space can truly make or break your success. So let's jump right in and explore some key considerations together!

Topics Covered:

• Understanding what your business truly requires from a space based on your strategy and business plan. Does your business thrive on foot traffic or draw customers in through other means?
• Evaluating factors like noise level, neighboring businesses, and the overall suitability of the building.
• Cost Analysis. The financial aspects of a location, including rental contracts, lease agreements, and hidden costs like leasehold improvements.
• Assessing growth projections, operational changes, and potential challenges in expanding your business.

It’s more than just a space! Make sure your business location aligns with your needs and goals so you can be set up for long-term success! Thinking about making a move into a new space? I would love to connect with you, reach out to me on Instagram!

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Welcome back to Small Business School and our eighth installment of The Boardroom series! Today I want to dive into some of the most crucial questions for small business owners looking to scale and make meaningful changes. As a coach, mentor, and accountant, I'm passionate about encouraging entrepreneurs to think beyond the conventional, take action, and ultimately build businesses that are not only profitable but also sellable. These are the conversations I live for so let’s jump right in!

Topics Covered:

• The importance of taking action and implementing insights gained from the places you are learning. For me this is often podcasts!
• Building a business that can operate independently of the owner.
• Strategies for increasing business profitability.
• Evaluating the sellability of your business and reducing risk factors.

Weekly Challenge: Reflect on how you can create a business that operates effectively without your constant presence. Consider areas where you are indispensable and how you can delegate or systemize tasks to enhance scalability and sellability! How profitable/sellable is your business today?

Even if you’ve never considered selling your business, it's so important to know that your business can go on without you! You never know when that might have to happen! Have questions about building  a business beyond yourself? Reach out to me on Instagram!

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Hey Small Business School! I am so pumped to have Amanda Wilson-Ciocci in today’s episode! Amanda is the owner of The Monarch & Co. and founder of Monarch Momentum. She is a community builder, launch expert, 2x best selling author, cancer survivor and mama of 3. With over twenty years experience Amanda helps you to transform influence to impact, build legacy, launch with clarity, so you can confidently make your dreams take flight and create the impact you are wanting to make in this world! Together, we delve into the uniqueness of the small business journey and more!

Topics Covered:

• The importance of community in business and the role of Monarch Momentum; a membership community for women in business. 
• Launching digital products and signature services to grow your audience and impact.
• Understanding the significance of mindset in overcoming challenges and staying focused on your mission.
• Exploring different avenues of investment to make your money work for you and propel your business forward.

Building thriving businesses isn’t a cookie cutter formula. Stay true to your unique path by aligning to your values and mission! Connect with Amanda on Instagram or through Monarch Momentum to transform your influence to impact!

Amanda’s Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonarchandco/
Monarch Momentum: https://www.themonarchandco.com/Monarch-Momentum
Bonus 1:1 Hot Seat with Amanda when you join MMM: https://hello.dubsado.com:443/public/appointment-scheduler/65317a2d8ca466be408c643b/schedule

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today's quick episode, we're diving into a crucial aspect often overlooked by many business owners: the cost of culture in a business. I am going to explain why I believe cultivating a positive culture from the start is essential for efficiency, productivity, and the overall vibe of your business environment. Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for a while, it's never too late to intentionally shape your company culture!

Topics Covered:

• The significance of prioritizing culture in a business, even from the early stages.
• Beyond a mission statement. The importance of aligning actions with intentions to foster the desired culture.
• Empowering your team by shifting from a culture of dependence on the owner to one of autonomy and decision-making.
• Crafting and maintaining a positive culture with practical steps to assess, adjust, and reinforce the desired atmosphere within your business.

Organizational culture affects productivity, employee satisfaction, and ultimately, the bottom line. Start cultivating your thriving small business culture today!

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Hey Small Business School! In this seventh episode of The Boardroom series we're diving into the C-suite world, these are top executives that drive strategic decisions in your business. This episode is all about putting on your CEO hat and exploring the key roles that make up the C-suite in order to help you gain high-level perspective to propel your business forward!

Topics Covered:

• The roles within the C-suite, from the CEO to the CFO, COO, CIO, CMO, and beyond, learn how each contributes to the overall success of your business.
• Why taking on the mindset of a CEO is essential for stepping back from day-to-day operations and focusing on strategic direction and improvement.
• The responsibilities of key C-suite roles, such as the COO's focus on operations, the CFO's role in financial management and strategy, and the CMO's responsibilities in branding and marketing.

Weekly Challenge: Carve out time to step into each of these C-suite roles and strategically assess your business's performance in each area! Each time you go back, dig deeper and even start to delegate different tasks to yourself as if you were a fortune 500 company. Some questions you can be asking yourself in each role are:

COO - What are your systems in place, how do things work?
CFO - How is the money flowing through your business?
CMO - What is your brand known for? How do you want people to experience you?

What got you here won’t get you to the next level, you need to intentionally put on these C-suite hates to gain the executive perspective. DM with any questions you have, I'm here to help you succeed!

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!

Welcome back to Small Business School! Today I'm joined by Ainsley Barreto! Ansley is a Business & Wealth Coach and the founder of The Thriving Business. With a passion for helping coaches & impact driven entrepreneurs, Ansley is dedicated to seeing others thrive in a work/life balance that aligns with their values. Her methods combine Manifestation, Mindset, and Marketing, offering a unique approach to achieving 7-figure dreams effortlessly. Join us as we discuss the ever-changing landscape of small business ownership and developing a mindset for entrepreneurial success!

Topics Covered:

• Ainsley's diverse background in marketing, travel agency ownership, and coaching.
• The impact of mindset and setting boundaries in entrepreneurship.
• Adapting to changes in the marketing landscape and the importance of continuous learning.
• Aligning business goals with personal values for sustainable success.

Feeling out of alignment with your business? Connect with Ansley on Instagram or through her free resources to see how she can help you build a thriving business!

Ansley’s Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachansleythrives/
Free 7-figure blueprint workshop: http://thethrivingbusiness.com/7-figure-blueprint
Free Wealth Success Call with Ansley: http://thethrivingbusiness.com/contact

Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.

The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.

To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.

Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!