The 5 Minute Business Boost®

Thanks for tuning in to the first part ( Episode pt. 1 ) of me chatting about trade shows & expos, which are a vital component of business growth and networking. It was all about showcasing, selling your products, meeting potential clients, and building brand awareness. Today I’m going to talk about the final 5 top tips for ensuring you get that success out of your investment to be part of a t...

Trade shows & expos are a vital component of business growth and networking. They offer an unparalleled opportunity to showcase and sell if you can your products, meet potential clients, and build brand awareness. In this episode, Sam chats about how to ensure you get that success - and it requires a good bit of planning, a great mindset and on-site execution. Now you may not attend trade show...

Today Sam chats about how entering your first photo competition at a local agricultural show can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a beginner. With so many details to consider, from choosing the perfect image to ensuring the presentation is just right, it’s easy to feel unsure of where to start. However, with a bit of guidance and attention to detail, you can give yourself the best chance of...

For small business owners in regional Victoria, finding effective and affordable advertising channels can be a challenge. One often overlooked yet powerful option is local community radio. Community radio stations offer a unique opportunity to connect with local audiences and promote your business in a way that resonates deeply with the community. In this episode, Sam will chat about the benefits...

Today I'm finally getting around to reviewing four books, these reviews have been done in isolation over the last year, but this week I pulled them together into Ai and asked it to clean it up and make it consistent. So the four books 1. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin 2. Welcome to the age of emotion by Michael Langdon 3. Small business, big opportunity by Sensis and Rob Hartnett 4. The Custom...

Quoting can be a double-edged sword for many small business owners. While some may see it as a tedious task, providing accurate and detailed quotes can save your business significant time and money in the long run. This episode (no. 70 ) will delve into what should be included in a quote document and offer five top tips for crafting excellent quotes. By the end, you'll understand how to make quoti...

In this week's episode, Sam chats about using AI in your small business to pick winners. Running competitions have become a popular strategy for businesses to engage their audience, grow their customer base, and reward loyal customers. However, one of the most crucial aspects of a competition is ensuring that the selection of the winner is both fair and transparent. AI (Artificial Intelligence) of...

The marketing campaign for the new Deadpool and Wolverine movie has been a masterclass in generating hype and excitement. Now I get it; it’s not for everyone, the marketing or the movie, but let's chat about the lessons learned. Let's see what Marvel / Disney's latest release gave us as far as takeaways for small businesses. I have referenced and quoted articles from Social Samosa, Digital Chew ,...

Small businesses must find efficient ways to communicate with their customers. We have social media; we have emails, and we have text, but what about looking at our websites? For me, the website must do most of the heavy lifting. Whether it’s a glorified landing page, a site of 5 pages, or 12 it needs to be able to help with the user experience. So how can we add to it and create additional UX, sa...

In this episode, Sam catches up with Tamara Simon; speaker, author, and coach. Affectionately known as Australia’s small business answer to Bob the Builder (can she fix it, yes she can), Tamara is driven by curiosity, change, and simplicity. For over 25 years, she’s been helping owners repair, renovate, and rebuild their often expensive hobbies and dysfunctional workplaces into simple, profitable...

In this episode, Sam chats about vehicle signage and her top 5 tips. Every opportunity to advertise and build your brand is valuable. One of the most effective yet often overlooked methods is vehicle signage. Whether you're a tradesperson, service provider, or small business owner, wrapping your vehicle with eye-catching, informative signage can significantly boost your visibility and attract new...

In this episode, Sam discusses sharing your story online and offers 5 points to consider. Online, sharing your personal story has become more powerful and accessible than ever. Whether it's through social media platforms, email newsletters (EDMs), blogs, or other digital avenues, telling your story can create meaningful connections and foster a sense of community. However, with the vast amount of...

Today I am with a local artist who has exhibited nationally and globally. Born and raised in Acheron, Murrindindi, Marian, as her website explains, has honed her craft over decades, experimenting with various styles before finding her true voice in freeform impressionism. We sit down for a chat about art, hemp, and what her inspirations and successes have been. Her life is like her art—bold, expre...

Regional Victoria comes alive with major events, from food and wine to animals, displays, vehicle shows, music festivals, and sporting tournaments. We have it all. Even if these events don't directly target your usual clientele, there are ways to attract a slice of the visitor pie or, as one of my famous sayings is – leverage!! So, let's get creative, get customers, and raise awareness of your bra...

In this episode, Sam speaks about her top 5 tips for writing grants for small & medium-sized businesses. She tackles the elephant in the room - the good, the bad, and the ugly—but all is not lost as she shares her top 5 tips to consider when applying for a small business grant. A must listen if you are considering applying for a small business grant in Victoria. Anywhere really. If you love th...

Today Sam discusses her top 5 tips for writing grants for your community group or Not-for-profit organisation. After 32 plus grants submitted, with another 10 co-written, and 30 DRAFT submissions given to Sam to read, in the realm of $5–10 million worth of dollars – grants and community development are a happy place for Sam. So tune in and glean some insights into the world of successful grant wri...

My poem was read out as part of the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review community meeting held on May 3rd in Benalla. This is based on my journey over 24 years of living in a " black spot." I simply asked AI to generate a poem based on our story. Short and sweet. If you love the episode… subscribe, share, like, or let me know about a future topic. Head over to the website, samhicks.com.au and...

For 24 years, living on our cattle farm in rural Victoria meant a constant struggle with internet access. Telstra Black Spot, thanks to the valleys around us, has turned simple tasks like making a call or checking email into frustrating ordeals. We endured years of unreliable landlines – especially bad in winter with waterlogged pits—then slow ADSL, and finally, the limitations of satellite intern...

Today Sam is speaking to a small business owner to find out about their business journey, so there are 5 questions! Sounds easy, right? So get ready for some great insights, reflections, and some laughter.....potentially some real serious bits too—as we catch up with Rohan Webb as he navigates a new direction for his business journey. Rohan has spent his career in sales, marketing and business man...

In this episode, Pt. 2, Sam discusses the challenges of those first 12 months. In the last episode, Sam chatted about the first three; here is the remainder of the challenges. (The first five are identified by Business. Gov. Au plus another 3 or so that Sam has identified.) Listen in for some reflections, some heavy parts, tips, and advice but overall this episode is something to think about for t...

In this episode, Pt. 1, Sam discusses the challenges of those first 12 months. The first five are identified by Business. Gov. Au plus another 3 or so that Sam has identified. Some reflections, some heavy parts, but overall something to think about for those first 12 months! If you love the episode… subscribe, share, like, or let me know about a future topic. Head over to the website, samhicks.com...

In this episode, Sam asks; did you know your packaging can be a silent salesperson? Craft a design that wows and protects, leaving a lasting impression on your customers. She will discuss the many hats of packaging 1. Protection: The primary function - ensure your product arrives safely. 2. Brand Ambassador: packaging as an extension of your brand identity (colors, logos, messaging). 3. Marketing...

In the second series of the podcast, Sam sits down with local business owners! Today we are speaking with a small business owner to find out about their business journey, so there are 5 questions! Sounds easy, right? So get ready for some great insights, reflections, and some laughter.....potentially some real serious bits too. Please note our discussion today, meaning the content we create in thi...

Today Sam is speaking to a small business owner to find out about their business journey, so there are 5 questions! Sounds easy, right? So get ready for some great insights, reflections, and some laughter.....potentially some real serious bits too. Today's guest is the co-founder of Issimo, Jay Cooper, who is a specialist in user experience (UX) and graphic design with a techy twist. The major bra...

In this second series of the podcast, Sam sits down with local business owners. Today we are speaking with a small business owner to find out about their business journey....so it's 5 questions! Sounds easy, right….so get ready for some great insights, reflections, and some laughter—potentially some real serious bits too. Please note our discussion today, meaning the content we create in this epis...