The SmallBizChat with Melinda Emerson

In this episode, Melinda Emerson and Ellen Rohr discuss understanding financial reports, the importance of charging more than it costs, and managing multiple business entities. They also delve into the difference between revenue and profit, introduce the 'Profit First' concept, and advise on seeking professional help for business numbers and borrowing strategies.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson discusses the foundations of small business success, including identifying customers, enhancing visibility, building credibility, and understanding value proposition. She also explores sales processes, customer feedback importance, tracking business conversions, leveraging technology, and the crucial role of SEO.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson chats with David Weiss about entrepreneurship and commitment. They delve into the business model of Selffee and discuss marketing strategies. They also share networking tips and common mistakes, as well as useful email tools and follow-up strategies. The episode wraps up with a preview of next week's episode.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson reflects on the past decade in business, discussing the impact of technology, the rise of e-commerce and content marketing, and future trends like mobile marketing and voice marketing. She also shares insights on the role of AI in business success and how to utilize resources for small business growth.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Ramon Ray to discuss personal branding and its impact on sales. They delve into building a brand from scratch, creating shareable content, and the power of video in brand establishment. They also discuss various video production methods for professional results.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson shares her Christmas message, discusses the significance of Jesus' birth story, and highlights the importance of family during holidays. She also talks about Christmas family traditions and games, shares personal family Christmas stories, and gives tips on balancing work and family during holidays. The episode wraps up with a year-end reflection and preparation for...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by sales expert, Alice Heiman. They discuss the challenges small businesses face in generating consistent sales, the importance of setting sales goals, and effective lead generation strategies. Alice also sheds light on networking, personal branding, and key factors to consider when hiring a salesperson, including job description, personality fit, and cul...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson shares her personal journey of deciding to return to school, highlighting the challenges she faced due to the lack of a master's degree. She talks about her desire to teach, her struggles with math and statistics, and how she overcame fear and self-doubt to embrace graduate school. She discusses her future goal of becoming a college professor and the family support...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson discusses the role of a business coach in small businesses. She provides tips on verifying a coach's credibility, understanding their role, and pitfalls to avoid. She further highlights the importance of being coachable, doing homework before hiring, and setting objectives. Lastly, she warns against inexperienced coaches.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson and Phil Gerbyshak discuss making real connections online. They explore strategies to establish online relationships, the importance of insight and interest in business, and using LinkedIn for sales lead generation. They also discuss the ideal time to ask for business online and effective LinkedIn content and engagement strategies. Melinda ends with advice for smal...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson chats with Cher Jones about the significance of video for personal branding. They discuss strategies for choosing effective video formats, tailoring content to different networks, and the implications of poor quality videos. Jones also shares insights on setting up a home studio for video recording.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson shares her personal journey from journalism to entrepreneurship. She discusses her new book "Fix Your Business", and shares insights from her personal life, including her experiences as a single mom. She also imparts advice to listeners based on her own experiences. The episode concludes with closing remarks and shared resources.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Barry Moltz to discuss common struggles of small businesses, share favorite hacks from "Small Business Hacks", and emphasize the importance of customer experience. They also explore sales and marketing strategies, the effectiveness of email marketing, and give advice on business reinvention. The episode concludes with a word from sponsor Adobe.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson welcomes guest Mike Michalowicz, discussing his new book "Clockwork". They identify top struggles in small businesses and stress the need for profit in business models. Mike shares insights on creating self-sustaining businesses, explains the "Queen B" role and the "4 D mix" in management. The episode concludes with Mike's advice for entrepreneurs and Melinda's bus...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson and guest Dawn Brolin, a CPA, discuss the new Tax Bill's impact on small businesses. They delve into topics like revoking S-Corp status, proactive tax planning, understanding finances, and the role of profit. They also discuss misconceptions about business expenses, the consequences of poor tax planning, tech tools for understanding business numbers, and future fin...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson chats with Charreah Jackson about balancing personal life and business. They delve into relationship types for professional women, tips for breadwinning wives, and starting a family while running a startup. Also, they discuss balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, contraception options for busy women, and prioritizing business over motherhood. The episode wraps...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson chats with sales expert Brynne Tillman about the differences between online and offline networking for small businesses. They delve into effective live event tactics, top online networking strategies, and social selling. They also discuss best practices for LinkedIn introductions and share vital tips for small businesses using LinkedIn.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson shares her personal journey as a workaholic business owner and discusses the importance of a firm financial structure. She offers strategies to rekindle passion for one's business and tips on balancing work and family. The episode further explores the significance of prioritizing tasks, using tech tools, tracking performance, and maintaining online visibility. It e...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson chats with Alfred Edmund Jr. about his entrepreneurial journey and the evolving business landscape. They delve into strategies for customer retention, the significance of self-awareness when feeling stuck, and the need for continuous growth in entrepreneurship. The conversation also touches on the role of mentorship and maintaining personal stability in business su...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson and guest Dianna Geairn discuss the value of live events and trade shows for small businesses. They cover decision-making for trade shows, common mistakes, and how to create memorable experiences. Geairn also shares her top business advice and promotes Trade Show Makeover.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson dives into the realities of being a boss, emphasizing the need for life and financial planning before starting a business. She discusses strategies for acquiring startup funds, the role families play in entrepreneurship, and the importance of understanding your market. Melinda also provides insights on creating a clear business plan, starting a business as a side h...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson discusses disruption and great service with Shep Hyken, the benefits of the subscription business model, and the difference between satisfied and loyal customers. They delve into customer service rules for ecommerce and retail, creating a customer-focused culture, enhancing customer service pre-sale, and utilizing surveys for customer feedback.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson discusses how to avoid taking on a "mama" role in your business. She stresses the importance of fostering a culture of proactivity and encourages business owners to invest in their employees. Melinda contrasts the roles of a manager and a leader, emphasizing the need for a positive work culture. She also highlights the potential pitfalls of being too maternal in a...

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Stephanie Humphrey to discuss productivity, networking, and small business hacks. They delve into technology for businesses, tools for collaborating with virtual teams, and strategies for scheduling social media posts. They also discuss the risks of social media for businesses and ways to build engagement online.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson shares her personal journey to becoming America's number one small business expert. She discusses the birth of her idea for small business advice, the struggle to publish her book "Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months", and the creation of the Small Biz Chat Podcast. There's also a focus on work-life balance and discovering your calling.