Building Success Stories with Ann Donnelly

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly interviews Keri Wytrwal, co-owner of Shipology, a woman-owned fulfillment center that supports small businesses in the e-commerce sector. They discuss the origins of Shipology, the challenges faced during growth, and the importance of flexibility and adaptability in business. Keri shares insights on hiring practices, the significance of cli...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly interviews Victoria Bushey, co-owner of Kingsbury Printing. They discuss the origins of the family business, the transition of leadership, and the importance of community engagement. Victoria shares insights on the challenges faced in the printing industry, the significance of client relationships, and the future plans for expanding their s...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly speaks with Erica Wood and Vittoria Buzzelli from Meliora Law Firm about their journey in establishing a law firm that prioritizes collaboration, sustainability, and a supportive culture. They discuss the challenges of starting a new business, the importance of aligning with core values and creating an approachable environment for clients....

In this episode, Ann Donnelly speaks with Lourene Bouffard, Owner of Every Penny Bookkeeping & Business Services, who shares her journey from aspiring CPA to entrepreneur, detailing the challenges she faced while starting her business during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of building strong client relationships, networking, and providing tailored solutions to meet the uni...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly interviews Kevin and Neelo Jaikeran, the owners of Queensbury Billiards. They discuss their journey from Guyana to opening a unique billiards hall that offers not only pool but also a diverse menu inspired by their cultural background. The conversation highlights their commitment to customer service, community engagement, and the importance...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann speaks with Paula Traina, a dedicated State Farm agent with offices in Queensbury and Glens Falls who has built a thriving business rooted in community involvement and a passion for helping others. With a strong foundation in the insurance industry and a commitment to personal and professional growth, Traina has positioned herself as a trusted advis...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly interviews Nicole Rothe, a seasoned physical therapist and personal trainer. They discuss Nicole's journey in the health and wellness industry, her holistic approach to training, and the importance of community building. Nicole shares her experiences working with diverse clients, her plans for a new studio, and her unique brand identity as...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, I speak with Riham LaRussa, owner of Saratoga-based Small Packages, a company built on the idea that gift-giving should be personal and stress-free. Riham left the corporate world to take over Small Packages in late 2022 and aims to empower customers to find the perfect gift for any occasion. Small Packages offers a variety of gift boxes, each filled wi...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly interviews culinary power couple Jenny and Chris Dore, who have recently taken over the Peppermill Family Restaurant in South Glens Falls. They discuss their backgrounds, the legacy of the restaurant, their vision for the future, and the importance of community engagement. Chris shares his culinary journey and the thoughtful process behind...

In recent tourism news, Alaska raised cruise tourism limits as residents’ concerns about over-tourism grew. Over-tourism is an increasing issue in trendy tourism destinations, and one solution that will keep revenue flowing is to focus more on bringing in visitors outside the regular busy season. Unless downtime is needed for maintenance or other recovery, selling year-round is a goal of most busi...

This week's topic is aimed at those who may not listen to podcasts, but you may have a relative or friend who could use this advice, so please spread the word! With nearly three-quarters of the US population using social media regularly, it’s a given that digital marketing is the best way to generate leads and get more customers in almost any type of business. Yet, a few people still feel that wor...

It’s time to review your goals and targets from earlier this year. Ideally, you’ve been reviewing these weekly or at least monthly, but so many people don’t, which is why this mid-year assessment is critical.  It’s so easy to lose track of time this time of year. Schools are out, vacations and holidays happen, and we get out of our routine. Hopefully, you are having fun and enjoying the fruit...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, discuss how to build a successful relationship with your digital marketing agency, the audio from a video presentation I've recently recorded. Throughout my years in digital marketing, I've met many business owners who did not have a good relationship with their digital marketing agency. Often, they were unsure if the agency was providing the services t...

In this week's episode of Building Success Stories, Seth and I welcome Kate Austin into the studio. Kate is the Founder, Owner, and CEO of Advokate, LLC . Advokate empowers startups, small businesses, nonprofits, and artists with the marketing tools they need to be successful. Born and raised in Killington, Vermont, Kate resides in Glens Falls, New York, with her dog Sasha and her three kiddos, He...

A few weeks ago, I came across a very insightful episode of the Ed Mylett Show on a four-hour drive from my daughter's college. I couldn’t wait to get home, listen again, take notes, and share the episode with everyone! Mylett’s guest was Leila Hormozi, and the topic was Transform FEAR into FUEL. Mylett had recently had dinner with Hormozi and her husband, Alex, who are highly successful entrepren...

This week, I bring you a very special episode of Building Success Stories—an interview with Megh and David Howard of Erbessd Instruments , a global leader in machine health monitoring.  The company has customers in nearly every country and works with 145 distributors and partners worldwide. It has approximately 140 employees working between Glens Falls, two locations in Mexico, a European off...

We all know what it’s like to go into a shop to browse when an aggressive salesperson approaches as soon as you enter the door and offers to “assist.” It makes you want to run out of the shop. That’s a salesperson who doesn’t understand the Buyer’s Journey.  In this episode of Building Success Stories, producer Seth Cooper and I discuss the Buyer's Journey and the stages a person goes through...

If you can only focus on one aspect of marketing your business, it should be increasing Domain Authority because this brings more relevant traffic to your website while boosting brand awareness and authority. In this episode of Building Success Stories, producer Seth Cooper and I discuss Domain Authority, a metric used by digital marketers to give an idea of the value Google and other search engin...

In Episodes 26 and 27 of Building Success Stories, Producer Seth and I discuss the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), a process for maximizing the traffic to your website, social media profiles, and any online “properties” you have from organic (not paid) search engine results . In Episode 26, Part 1, we defined SEO,  discussed how it increases traffic to your website, and how to res...

Do you outsource web development, maintenance, social media management, etc.? Understanding basic SEO will help you know what you are paying for and determine whether the provider has implemented the agreed-upon services. You can also confidently develop and deliver optimized content to your website and other channels. In Episodes 26 and 27 of Building Success Stories, Producer Seth and I discuss...

This episode of Building Success Stories has two parts. In Part 1, Producer Seth and I discuss how digital marketing can be used for more than marketing and selling. You invest money, time, and other resources in your digital marketing channels, so consider what you can do with those channels beyond marketing and selling. In Part 2, I discuss The Power of Partnership. If the pandemic has taught us...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Producer Seth and I discuss how to keep your marketing going during your busy season and maximize the benefits of the increased exposure it brings. Whenever your busy season is, it is essential to plan and prepare to use your digital marketing channels to get the most out of opportunities that arise. You also need to plan to keep your marketing and sale...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Producer Seth and I discuss the various contact methods you can offer on your digital marketing channels and how to determine which to use. On your digital marketing channels, you must offer convenient ways to contact you that suit your audience’s preferences but are also manageable for you. Too many contact options can confuse you and your audience, es...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Producer Seth and I discuss several strategies to overcome perfectionism and procrastination with your content creation. So many people are afraid to write articles, marketing emails, or social media posts because they think they are not good enough. Lack of confidence is usually due to a lack of experience—not in what they do professionally but in crea...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, Producer Seth and I discuss the classifications and labels used for generations, age groups, etc., and how they are relevant or not to a business. You see many articles about marketing to a specific generation or age group, but are these labels relevant to your business? Listen to this episode to learn more about the generations and how you can use the...