In today’s world, it’s never been easier to implement a new idea, start a new venture, or build up a new business. But it’s also never been more intimidating. There are countless resources telling you how something should be done, and the market can seem incredibly saturated with so many competitors, ads, experts, and millions of content creators. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. If intimidation and fear are getting to you, this episode is going to be your boost of encouragement.

Our guest is Ben Albert. Ben was a sales executive when the pandemic hit, and, like millions of other professionals, he was let go. Today, he shares how this moment was his rock bottom and from this point, he became zero to hero. It took a lot of work, creativity, and networking, but in just one year, he was able to launch and grow his marketing company, Balbert Marketing LLC. He also became the curator of the Real Business Connections Network, where he hosts five podcasts.

“Rock bottom was such a blessing in disguise.” – Ben Albert

Insights from Ben’s journey:

• How his long-game knowledge helped him when he decided to start his business.

• What collaborative partnerships look like and how they help your business.

• The necessity of trying something different, new, and creative.

Ben says there’s no such thing as a key to success. Instead, it’s a combination lock, and we each have our own unique combination. Each of us has our own idea or definition of success, and we each have our path to get there.

“What is your creative spark? And how can you bring someone in with you?” – Ben Albert

Tune in to this episode for a dose of inspiration and practical insights as we explore Ben’s remarkable journey from zero to hero.

Links from Today’s Episode:

Ben Albert Website

Growgetters Only

Ben Albert LinkedIn

Real Business Connections Facebook

Ben Albert Instagram

The post Zero to Hero with Ben Albert appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

When running a business, it should be expected that sometimes things will go south, and we’ll have to put out fires. Sometimes these situations can be solved in a day with a phone call, but sometimes they can potentially end your business. That’s what happened with our guest today when her Stripe account was hacked.

Shannon Mattern is the founder of the Web Designer Academy where she teaches web designers how to create profitable, sustainable, freelance web design businesses. She also hosts the Profitable Web Designer Podcast where she shares insights and strategies for web design professionals.

In this episode, Shannon talks about her recent experience and relates it to these business lessons:

• Be transparent and communicate with your clients
• In the middle of a challenge, look for rational and uninvolved perspectives
• There’s more than one way to do things

“There are multiple ways to handle any situation. Why not give myself the opportunity to find out all of them and then make a decision with way more information than just what’s in my head or I can Google.” – Shannon Mattern

Today’s show highlights the importance of relationships and networks in the business world. Having the right people around you, especially during challenging times, can make a world of difference. But they can only help you to the extent that you’re asking for help. If you don’t share your challenges, the right people who can help you overcome them won’t come.

In the world of business, it’s necessary to have the ability to navigate adversity with resilience, transparency, and with the support of your network. Listen in as we explore the lessons learned from Shannon’s experience.

Links from Today’s Episode:

Web Designer Academy

Profitable Web Designer Instagram

Profitable Web Designer Threads

The post Stripe Account Hack Awareness with Shannon Mattern appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

When we first start our own business, we have big dreams and grand plans, but we don’t really know if it will take off. Today we hear the inspiring story of Kelly Aaron, who shows us that with perseverance, adaptability, and a commitment to building relationships, success is within reach.

“Our biggest limit is self-imposed.” – Kelly Aaron

Kelly opened her first business over 20 years ago. Fueled by her passion for modern design and art, she curated museum exhibitions and facilitated the sale of rare pieces through esteemed auction houses. In 2016, Kelly founded Blueprint Lighting, a company that has since earned a reputation for crafting exquisite, modern fixtures.

Blueprint Lighting started from a lightbulb moment with a dismantled light fixture in a garage. The company embarked on a transformative journey from this spark of creativity that led to its present-day prominence. Here are 3 things you can learn from Kelly’s story.

“You have to be willing to go, I’m not fully in control of this, but even if I get the least out of it, I’m okay with that.” – Kelly Aaron

Kelly sheds light on the importance of planting seeds in our business and patiently nurturing their growth. We may not have control over how or when these seeds will flourish, or which opportunities will materialize, but we need to continue planting them. Because we never know what will come out of a favor we grant, or valuable offering we give or an email we send. Who knows? That rush order over Thanksgiving might lead to one of your biggest clients. Long Game listeners get a 30% discount on the website with the code LONGGAME30

Links from Today’s Episode:

Blueprint Lighting Website

Blueprint Lighting Instagram

The post Creativity, Collaboration, and Craftsmanship with Blueprint Lighting Founder, Kelly Aaron appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

As entrepreneurs, we need to plan and strategize in running our businesses, but we also need to be creative. Whether it’s figuring out ways to connect with your community, designing your next product launch, or curating your digital presence. We need to cultivate space where we can be creative so we can have the next great idea that will bring our business forward. Today we’re joined by a truly creative soul and we’ll talk about how she learned to be her true self, the importance of sharing your values, and of community.

I’m joined today by Miriam Schulman. Miriam is an artist, the author of Artpreneur, and an art business coach. She also hosts The Inspiration Place Podcast and developed The Artist Incubator program, where she helps artists get past their fear and doubt and create thriving businesses from their passion, no matter what kind of art they create.

“By being your authentic self, you’re giving your people permission to be their authentic self.” – Miriam Schulman

Miriam is brave in sharing who she really is; someone who is creative, artistic, bold, colorful, and loud. But in a society where artists, especially women, are told to be quiet and conscious of how much space they take up, she had to learn how to not water herself down and be at peace with who she really is. 

Miriam shares so much more today, but here are the three main points you’ll gather so much value from:

There are two circles we need to surround ourselves with. The first is a circle of people just like you: your peers and mentors who are in the same field as you, who you can learn something from, and who can encourage you and help you be better and grow. The second is your audience and your clients. These are the people you provide value for, the people who directly benefit from the value you bring to the world. Both circles are equally important and your relationships within them should be nurtured. And Miriam does exactly this. It’s apparent in the way she finds ways to connect with them and devotes time to build relationships, not for what they might offer her, but because she understands how important relationships are.

“It’s really important to become part of a group that encourages you to celebrate your wins because that is motivating, that is positive energy.” – Miriam Schulman

Links from Today’s Episode:

The Inspiration Place Podcast

Artpreneur Chapter Giveaway

Artpreneur Book

Miriam Schulman Instagram

The post Community & Inspiration with <em>Artpreneur</em> Author Miriam Schulman appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

Trying to achieve success in your business alone, is a losing strategy. Behind every successful person and every ultra-successful business are teams of people and relationships that make success achievable. Who you surround yourself with is critical to your success and in today’s episode, I want to help you understand why your circle matters for the long game.

After coming back from a recent trip to a storytelling symposium, I feel compelled to share with you the value I’ve received from being part of so many incredible circles since starting my own business. Some of the circles I’ve belonged to served for a short period of time, others are ongoing, and we continue to meet monthly.

“Those in your circle can reflect back to you who you really are.”
-Sandra Scaiano

As human beings, and especially as women, we’ve been gathering in circles since our ancestral times. There is a powerful field of energy, strength and sisterhood felt in a circle. Some will call it a community, a tribe, or a network, but I choose to call it my circle.

Key ideas in this episode

Professionally speaking, when you’re building your business, there is a special value placed on being part of a group of women that will hold you accountable. They allow you to be vulnerable, and where you share information, resources, and expertise to support each other’s growth. Being supported and giving support is what allows everyone to succeed.

“Build a circle with people who are committed to their journey and are investing in themselves.” -Sandra Scaiano

Be brave and allow yourself to show up to a circle of support. It can be scary in the beginning, but I promise you it’s so worth it. It’s the fastest and most effective way to build your business and yourself.

The post The Long Game Is… Your Circle appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

Recently, a former client reached out asking for help. Our work together ended about 5 years ago when I built a website for her. We keep in touch now and then, but her recent request was an ask for help. 

Her site was down, and she was looking for a resource. I’m glad she reached out to me and I was happy to point her in the right direction to resolve the issue. She then asked about doing some updates and wanted to know if that’s something she could hire me to do. 

You know it’s a long game strategy conversation today. 

My P.E.A.K. framework is all about client relationships and the K stands for keep in touch. Let’s dive into why it’s worth having a plan to reconnect with past clients 

I know you agree this sounds nice but you’re wondering how to do this on top of taking care of current clients and everything else? I’ve got you. 

5 ways to keep in touch with past clients. 

These don’t have to be everyday activities. Be intentional when you see an article or post or find an opportunity to refer or make introductions. Make a part of your process to quickly send an email or text. 

Staying in touch is one of the best ways to gain new business from previous clients and make connections Strong relationships are a long game strategy that will always be on trend.

The post How to Keep Connected to Past Clients appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

There are so many things that can block our way to success. We can have a creative block and not be making content, a video block and be scared to go live, or money block and not know what to charge for our product or services.

It doesn’t matter how long or short you have been in business; blocks will always pop up on the way. I see this with my clients, and today I’m sharing about one of my own blocks. My block is an email block, where I just can’t sit down and send out emails to my audience.

In today’s episode, I’ll share my journey and what it took me to get through this block to provide some tools to help you get through your blocks and move to the next step towards your success.

Tip: It’s all about your mindset, embrace the block and start building in that direction.

I’ve been inspired to write emails to my audience. Some of my podcast guests have talked about communication, but those conversations were not enough to get me over my block, even with the help of my VA. I let this slide for so long, thinking that the podcast alone was enough. It was all about mindset. That can keep us wrapped up in all sorts of behavior and avoidance.

Tip: Know your goals

Do some soul searching. Where are you comfortable and what makes you uncomfortable? Can you set concrete goals? If you have truly set a goal, overcoming your block is a must for you to achieve them.

It’s easy in life to head in a direction without any true goals set. Intentions are not goals; they lack the specificity needed in plan building and goal achievement.

Tip: Reach out and get some support

If you are in a program or on a membership site, bring your block up as part of the conversation. I received practical advice on how to move myself forward from a conversation with my coach. Part of the support is hearing that others may have experienced it but then what has worked for them.

Tip: One way to move forward is by putting goal on your calendar

Time blocking works if you’re committed to your goals. The appointments you make for yourself are as important as client appointments. Time blocking helps with accountability, and it is proof of your priorities. There is time to achieve your goals when you have what you’re working towards in mind.

Tip: Connect and get inspired to reach your goals

I love that space with my women business friends. I love that energy. It’s unique and helpful in so many ways. Surround yourself with people whose energy lifts you up. People who are doing things, connecting, and sharing. The energy you get from others also requires you to embody it; you’ve to take that energy and put it to use for your own situation to move forward.

If you have a block and you need some support, comment on the Instagram thread of this episode, and we, Long Gamers will be there to lift you up.

Links from Today’s Episode:

Episode 14 Secret Weapon: Email Newsletters with Belinda Wasser

The post Getting Through A Block appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

Knowing your audience is the ultimate GPS. It directs everything.

When you know who you are talking to, what to say to, ‘connect’ comes easier. 

We know – we know – we are relationship building and that starts with sharing your stories.

In Episode 7 – I was joined by April Pertuis, who helps women use their stories to get clear on their purpose, build their audience, and grow their brand.

April shines a light on the connection between knowing our audience and using stories in your business.

I was torn between this next guest, Tracy Otsuka’s Episode 20, talk opening this episode because her point of knowing your audience is so fundamental and literally was the pivotal point in her journey. Once she got clear on who she was speaking to, women with ADHD, Tracy was able to grow a FB community to now over 30,000 members strong. It was 13K when we recorded her episode. 

Tracy is a course creator and host of the ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast. Getting clear on her audience meant her course content resonated more. Because the right people were hearing it and the natural effect of that is more sales, more growth, more impact.

Facebook Ads – I know you all are curious about how these work. Also, how you can apply Facebook Ads to your business. This is such a popular episode we did last year. It is worth a re-listen. 

Facebook Ads are Long Game – as Facebook Ads Consultant, Laura Ball shares with us in Episode 3, but they’ve got a gem in targeting. The ability to target allows us to reach our customers on social like no other way of advertising. Targeting works when you know your audience. You’ve got to know who your customer is to be able to reach them. That makes sense, but How do you figure it out? How do you actually get to know them better so you can target them?

Laura shares some investigative insight that we can all start employing. 

A big question we entrepreneurs wrangle with is pricing. 

How do we price our programs and our services? 

Questions to ask yourself when pricing include: 

What’s the value? What’s your level of experience? What is included (especially calculate the direct access to you)? And What results do you deliver? 

As Episode 38‘s guest Coach, Money Mentor, and Strategist, Alexandra Takeda, brings forth, that Pricing is another aspect of business where knowing your audience pays off.

This was a fun episode to create, pulling out from these excerpts allows for us to focus and absorb important concepts.

Links from Today’s Episode:

The LONG GAME is… Finding Your Brand Voice

10 Things to Know About Keywords

The post The Long Game is… Knowing Your Audience appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

It was so much fun (and so easy) to connect with long-time friends, or even meet new ones, in the past. Admittedly, a lot has changed in the past year, and 2020 really challenged us when it came to staying connected without seeing each other physically. That’s why I invited a good friend of mine, Sarah Walton, to the podcast. She and I discuss the struggles we encountered in our journey and the long game plan to stay connected, even during a pandemic.

It is our responsibility to tell the truth.

Sarah explains that it is totally normal to still get nervous during talks with others, whether online or not. She also explains the shifts she made this past year and the things she realized during 2020. Don’t miss her strategy for developing good conversations with people in any context.

We also discuss:

What are your core values and goals for this year?

Sarah explains that you have to be true to yourself and no matter what happens, that you need to know the universe has your back.

It is a fact that there are no shortcuts and no magic wand in this industry to make things easier. We need to be clear on how the business works, and have insight into the processes. Finally, we must keep improving daily and never give up on our goals!

If there’s one key takeaway I got from today’s show, it’s this:

“How can you not take care of your body and expect to run a business?
It’s just not going to work.”

Sarah Walton

Links from Today’s Episode:

Sarah’s Website

Game On Girlfriend Membership

Sarah’s Facebook Page

Sarah’s Instagram

The post Women on the Journey With You appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.

This week I met a fellow woman business owner for coffee. Having a community and connections is something I work to cultivate in my life and business. My community enriches me and inspires me.

In the cafe, we talked about our year, what we accomplished & what still didn’t get done, and the things we want to focus on for next year. We shared resources and ideas. We shared laughs and talked about our kids.

A few years ago I received an email newsletter that I liked the vibe of. I read the whole email scrolling all the way to the bottom. In the address area, I noticed that the town next to mine was listed. I had recently moved to the suburbs of Brooklyn. It was a very lonely time for me picking up and moving from the local friends I had made. I missed my women friends and with small children couldn’t just drive an hour for a night out all the time.

So I clicked the link in the email to the website, found the Contact page, and sent a note.

That was almost four years ago! And here we sit still connecting. I love that this woman took a chance on meeting someone new, me. It was kinda like a blind business date. I could have been crazy, but I’m sure she checked out my website and my social profiles. Through the years we have helped each other, had drinks with each other, and built a community out of our little meeting. It was so good to see you Holly G.

Do you reach out?
Do you read the address where the email is coming from?

I’ll not only reach out to someone local, but I also reach out to people online too. With Zoom, you can stay connected without being on the same coast! I’m part of a group of women who found each other in a Facebook group. We splintered off and created a mastermind group. We met every two weeks for a year. And we’ve met in person a few times too.

There is power in these connections. There is camaraderie.

And most of all these connections expand, they build. We introduce each other to our friends and recommend each other to clients because we know that person’s capabilities and their essence.

Here’s the thing though, these friendships developed from wanting connection not from wanting ‘something’. There was no ‘pick your brain’ only open brain sharing. Keep that in mind when you try this out. I just want to know someone, want to share, and want to be a part of a community.

Who will you ask out?

The post Blind Business Date appeared first on Web Design | SEO Strategy | Kajabi Expert.