Online Business Launchpad | Start An Online Business | Online Business Growth

Have you ever spent hours crafting content, only to wonder if it's hitting the mark with your audience? I found myself in that exact spot while creating a lead magnet, struggling to pick the perfect hero image.  Ever been there? Stick around, because in today’s episode I'm taking a look at a game-changing method for getting quick, actionable feedback on your content. I talk about: The challenges o...

Have you ever thought about turning your personal stories or opinions into a profitable side hustle? Even in a world dominated by AI and shifting economies, if you can string together sentences that get people wanting more, it's absolutely possible.  In this episode, we're diving deep into the secrets of getting started as a freelance writer with Lindy Alexander, an award-winning freelance travel...

At just 24 years old, Greg Berry was elected as a city councilor and quickly spotted a major problem: government organizations were struggling to get fair value for their surplus items when they sold them. Determined to find a solution, Greg leveraged his IT expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to create Municibid, an online platform that has since revolutionized government auctions. His innovativ...

Ever wondered if your emails are disappearing into a digital abyss, never to be seen or read by the people on your list? Imagine how bad that would be for your business if your carefully crafted messages never reach their destinations.  In this episode, we dive deep into the world of email deliverability with tech expert MV Braverman to ensure your emails not only send but also land exactly where...

Have you ever worried that your email platform is nothing more than an expensive drag on your business?  And that you’re not getting everything out of it that you could?  Like a parked Ferrari languishing in the driveway? In this episode we dive deep into how ActiveCampaign can revolutionize the way you connect with your customers and transform routine tasks into powerful customer relationships. M...

Ever found yourself frustrated while waiting in line? Imagine turning that idle time into a goldmine for your business! In today’s episode, host, Trudy Rankin dives into how a surprise waiting period turned into an opportunity to employ the '1 Percent Up' technique—fine-tuning her business in ways that are simple yet significantly impactful over time. She also talks about: The transformative power...

Imagine stumbling upon a tool that not only lifts your content creation game but also revolutionizes the way you organise your design workflow. Brenda Cadman did just that with Canva, transforming her graphic design process from chaos to streamlined simplicity. Dive into this episode as Brenda shares her journey from discovering Canva in its early days to becoming a Canva verified expert, and how...

If you have to regularly create content, do you struggle to find topics to cover?  Whether you’re a podcaster, blogger, writer, you-name-it, it can be tough trying to overcome the old “blank page, blank mind” syndrome. In today’s episode, host Trudy Rankin shares her 3-step process for coming up with content topics, no matter what.  Does it take a little bit of thought to make the process work?  Y...

Are you sick of working long hours?  Long commutes?  Tedious, exhausting tasks? Imagine being able to quit your job and replace your entire income by simply buying an existing online business - no more sleepless nights worrying about starting from scratch. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, that's exactly what Jaryd Krause did after years of backbreaking work as a plumber. In this candid int...

Do you constantly feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything on your to-do list? Imagine being able to squeeze more into your day without feeling overwhelmed or like you're constantly running out of time. In this practical episode, Host, Trudy Rankin, unveils her tried-and-true strategies for maximizing productivity and getting more done in a day. Trudy also talks abou...

Do you often feel overwhelmed and like there's never enough time in the day?  You're not alone.  As a too-busy solopreneur or small business owner, it's easy to get bogged down in the daily grind and lose sight of what really matters. So in this episode, Trudy Rankin shares the 5 powerful daily rituals that she uses to stay focused, boost productivity, and avoid burnout. Trudy brings a wealth of e...

Have you spent years crafting your professional identity, building a solid reputation, and networking with industry peers? But when you look at your LinkedIn profile, it's a relic of the past, a dusty snapshot that fails to capture the dynamic professional you've become.  Sound familiar? You're not alone. Many of us have neglected our LinkedIn presence, unaware of its true potential as a powerful...

Are you in a crowded niche where it feels almost impossible to stand out?  And you’re looking for ways to build your customer base? Shaunda Necole is an influencer and online business owner who has successfully built multiple blogs, podcasts and monetisation streams around her passion for food and travel. In just two years, she built her blog The Soul Food Pot into Google's #1 site for Southern so...

Have you ever felt awkward about asking clients for a testimonial?  Or reached out to a client for a review or recommendation and got back crickets?   In this episode, Trudy Rankin shares four tips to get amazing client testimonials without having to feel embarrassed about asking. Trudy helps busy business owners create and sell new online products and services that people want, without having to...

At age 26, Andrew Guttormsen was living with his parents and took an unpaid internship to get his foot in the door at Teachable. His persistence and great ideas led to him becoming a core team member and he went on to eventually co-found Circle, a community platform now used by over 10,000 businesses. With experience scaling two highly successful startups, Andrew shares valuable insights on implem...

As an engineer, developer or other IT professional, are you sick of meetings and managers?   And you dream of starting your own business so you can escape your cubicle? Michael Frew has a unique perspective - after 18 years working as an engineer and architect for top tech companies, he made a big shift to acquire online businesses instead of starting them.  In this interview, he shares why IT pro...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to sell a consulting firm or an agency?   In this special evergreen episode from 2023,  we're diving into the secrets behind preparing your consultancy business for growth and eventual exit. And, I pose the question, if you could sell your business someday, what would it take to get it ready? My guest, Professor Joe O'Mahoney, has over 20 years of experi...

Have you ever wondered if starting a niche website could be a viable business for you?  In this special evergreen episode from 2023, we're revisiting my conversation with Jake Lang, an expert at starting profitable niche sites. Jake has an incredible story of building niche sites while working a full-time job, eventually leading to a six-figure business that allowed him to quit and work for himsel...

Have you ever wondered how a simple passion can transform into a thriving business? Or what it would take to turn a love for making things with your hands into a profitable venture? It’s a question that a lot of people ask when they start thinking about setting up their own business.   Or whether they could do something to bring in a bit of extra cash to supplement their day job. In this episode I...

Have you ever had to revive a neglected website that was costing you potential revenue? In this episode, Online Business Launchpad host Trudy Rankin talks about the journey of renovating her website The Menopause Effect, which had become neglected over time.  After a Google update tanked her website's traffic and revenue, Trudy realised she needed to take drastic action to resurrect the dying site...

When you’re a small business owner trying to do it all, how do you find time for marketing without neglecting customers?  Sarah Noel Block went from working for seven bosses to starting Tiny Marketing, where she helps time-strapped marketers punch above their weight.  With over 7 years experience streamlining marketing for multi-company corporations, Sarah shares her proven Tiny Marketing framewor...

Do you worry that AI tools like ChatGPT are going to replace you and potentially even destroy your business? Well, you’re not alone.  But there is something that you can do to stop that doomsday scenario from becoming real. Steven Lewis is the Founder of marketing agency, Taleist.  He’s been writing professionally as a journalist and copywriter since 1994. He has lectured in PR and journalism, and...

What do you do when you need investor funding for your startup, but you’re struggling to convince anyone to open their wallets? Rob May, engineer turned entrepreneur, knows what that feels like.  Even though he had experience with startups, he still found it a struggle to convince investors to fund his ideas.   However, he finally cracked the code. And in this episode Rob shares how constant pract...

Have you reached the point in life where you or your business or personal partner are starting to experience menopause-related symptoms?  Things like brain fog or hot flashes?  And you and/or your partner are starting to feel the impact, not just on work tasks, but also on relationships and self-confidence? Menopause and its various associated symptoms can have a huge impact on women and their car...

Building a community can be a really tough job.  People come and go for so many reasons. Sometimes it’s because they’ve outgrown what the community can offer.  Sometimes it’s because life just happens and they need to cut back on expenses or take a break for awhile or whatever.  And sometimes people leave because they weren’t a good fit in the first place and didn’t find what they were looking for...