More than a Few Words

Indiana is taking bold steps to introduce Hoosiers to the World, and the World to Indiana. Through the ISBDC (Indiana Small Business Development Center) there are free services available for business owners looking to grow their business and expand beyond our borders.   From training and counseling services, to support developing an export strategy, the ISBDC is helping thousands of business owner...

For generations, accountants relied on handwritten ledgers, carefully written recording every transaction generated by a business.  Then came programs like Quickbooks which have automated the process.   Now the next iteration of these programs is available.  Quickbooks Online.  But is the software the right choice for you?  Larry Marrietta of Marietta Financial Services and host Lorraine Ball talk...

If you have been paying attention to changes on Facebook lately, you will notice blue and grey check marks appearing next to company listings.  These symbols identify that the page has been verified by Facebook.   In this era of scammers and hackers, verification gives visitors confidence when they visit your page.  This week, Sam and Lorraine talk about why you need to verify, how to get your ver...

When June rolls around, suddenly everything gets a bit more colorful. Rainbow flags adorn porches and automobiles. It's very tempting to hop on the pride-wagon, but should you?  If you're just promoting pride to grab a few rainbow dollars, maybe you should rethink what to do the rest of the year before you plan your Rainbow strategy for the month of June.  Today Roundpeg's Lorraine Ball and Lead G...

This week, Lorraine talks with Waylon Wright and Diana Caldwell of life science company Pearl Pathways about their web design process.  If you have a company which sells expertise, not products, this episode is a must listen. MTFW is a production of Roundpeg, a web design company . Curious about the final product?  Go to  https://www.pearlpathways.com/

Memes are almost synonymous with the internet. Memes are a constantly changing inside joke, shared by millions and distributed via the web. They can be inclusive or exclusive. They serve as commentary on shared experiences. For these reasons, memes are appealing to businesses on social media. But the question of whether or not they should use them is a much-debated one. Join Roundpeg's Lorraine Ba...

While some people come to your website to browse, the vast majority come for a purpose. They are looking for a specific piece of information or resource.  Custom, landing pages help visitors find exactly what they are looking for.  In today's conversation, Lorraine shares some simple rules to follow as you build your landing page.  Eliminate distractions like sidebars and navigation Keep the conte...

Everyone has a network. it is comprised of family members, friends, and former coworkers. Some people have large networks, and others have smaller, supportive groups, but every one of your employees has a network.  As a business owner, Hazel Walker thinks it is up to you to teach your employees how to use their networks, to subtly promote your business. They don't have to walk into their grandmoth...

No matter how interesting your content is, if you miss the mark with your headline, no one will read it.   In today's conversation, Allison Carter and Lorraine Ball talk about the art of a headline, why writing clickbait isn't bad if you deliver on the promise, and why it is ok to be negative sometimes.  This special episode of MTFW is part of a series of interviews with the speakers from the  Dig...

If your products or services aren’t represented on Pinterest, you could be missing out on a growing stream of potential customers. Discover the ins and outs of Pinterest, a tool that allows members to “pin” and share images, videos, and other objects about products and services. Learn about the site’s user base and popular categories as well as how to include your brand to gain maximum exposure. T...

Part of what makes a podcast interesting is the skill of the interviewer.  Professional podcaster, Jen Edds boils down the process of preparing for an interview into a few easy steps that anyone can follow.  She suggests: Be intentional – Have a purpose for each episode, and your overall podcasts. Have a clear idea of why your program will matter to your audience. A business podcast needs to deliv...

Google is always happy to help you spend more money.  They will always show you new ways to do more with your advertising.  That's how they generate $17 Billion a quarter.  While you can spend more money, the question you need to ask is "should I spend more".   Google Ads (formerly AdWords) expert, Michelle McNally explains that sometimes it will be worth it.  In today's conversation learn more ab...

The first step to creating really interesting and relevant blog content is to release the idea that the blog is about you and your business. It isn't.  As Jennifer Riley Simone , founder of Fresh Figs Marketing explains, great blog posts are about the questions your customers have. Your next great blog post is right there in the conversation you just had with a prospective client. Make a list of t...

"You will not get everything done" For business owners overwhelmed with a long task list, that is the message business Coach CJ McClanahan wants them to hear. Once you accept the idea that some things are just not going to be finished, you can set priorities, choosing how you will spend your time.

Businesses of all sizes can benefit from video media. If you're thinking about adding video into your marketing strategy, might start by looking at what other people are doing. Look for trends and styles which stand out, and which ones you can do without. That is what we did as we launched our expanded video marketing program  Tune in as Roundpeg's Lorraine Ball and Melanie Gaston chat about using...

Google My Business has evolved a lot over the years. If you have it, maybe you're not using it to the fullest. Everything in marketing is about engagement. With all of these Google My Business tools handy, you're well-equipped to build quality relationships with your clients and web-searchers alike. Listen in while Lorraine Ball and Erin Bemis chat about ways to own and optimize your Google My Bus...

What is the difference between marketing and PR? They're basically the same thing, right? Well, kinda. But not really.  As Roundpeg's Page Jones to explains PR is focused much more on the top of the funnel, while marketing activities are more closely aligned with sales.    More Than a Few Words is a production of Roundpeg .

Whether you're working with a complete stranger or your best friend, there are a few things you should expect when embarking on a design project. Don't let the administrative stuff take effort and energy away from your redesign - go into the project with a plan.  Your designer should give you a contract, a complete set of files, branding guide, and an invoice.  Join Lorraine Ball and Roundpeg's le...

Has your inbox been flooded with  “Improvements to Our Privacy Policy” emails? It isn't an accident. Most global websites are scrambling to come into compliance with the European Union's GDPR (Global Data Privacy Regulation). As Peter Wolfgram explains, even if you only do business in the US, these rules can have a significant impact on your business. For more information, be sure to check out his...

Storytelling has always been a part of marketing. But how do you tell a story in 140 characters, or with just one image?  Jason Falls thinks social media marketers need to pull back from an individual tweet and look at the big picture and define the larger brand story. Using a series of images, videos, and posts you can build a complete story of a brand over time. Listen as Jason shares examples o...

Twitter is a social network, which means that you should be interacting with other people and brands. One of the best ways to have a conversation and meet new like-minded Twitter users is by joining Twitter chats. These chats use a #Hashtag to engage with their fanbase and keep the discourse going.  Join Roundpeg's Lorraine Ball and Your Social Media Works' Carol Stephens and pick up a few helpful...

Is your site showing signs of age? Like deciding when to get a new car, it may be unclear if you should throw more money at your website or go for a completely new model.  Join Roundpeg's Peter Wolfgram and Lorraine Ball as they share some thoughts about what makes a website stay relevant, and how to do it on the cheap. More Than a Few Words is a production of Roundpeg .

Keeping your things secure in the digital world can be scary. A good password can help a lot. If your passwords look like a cat walked across a keyboard, you may not be as secure as you think.  Join Roundpeg's Lorraine and Simon as they explore a few ways to bolster your web account security. More Than a Few Words is a production of Roundpeg .

Jen Edds is the Brassy Broad in charge.  She is a musician, a podcaster and the founder of Brassy Broadcasting, a podcasting coaching company.  She helps ordinary business owners find their voice on this growing platform.  Drop in on her conversation with Lorraine,  as they talk about how she got started. Spoiler alert! It begins with a group of nuns. The conversation is also filled with practical...

When does 1 + 1 = More than 2?  When you are adding the power of multiple marketing channels together..  Each piece of your marketing delivers results. But when you integrate your activities so social media drives traffic to your website which converts visitors to email subscribers, who then receive very targeted email messages the results are significanltly better. David Fischer of Solutions for...