The confidence coach, motivational speaker & recovering agency owner, Kirsty Hulse joins me for this episode to share her wisdom around confidence.

She's the lady in the know when it comes to this stuff and share some incredibly insightful nuggets of information including that around self-esteem, confidence & the fact she thinks that there is no one person on this planet that doesn't have confidence.

As I mention in the episode, if you do nothing else, give Kirsty a follow on Instagram as her stories will always bring a smile to your face!

Find a follow Kirsty: Instagram | Website

We get that it can feel scary, but perhaps you may find there's a lightbulb moment within this episode that you can take away and into this year and all the years to come.

In this episode, we share snippets such as:

→ Not getting caught up on the customer avatar stuff that you find online, but more delving into the psychographics of your potential customers.

→ how to become creative with diversifying your marketing

→ getting over the fact that you may piss some people off, but you may also not. Don't be scared to repeat your message.

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We'd love to get your take on the subject, so please do drop us a DM on Instagram to let us know your thoughts & feedback!

Liane's previous guest episode, her area of expertise & get to know her - Episode #55 - SEO & Shopify with Liane aka The Content Creator

Find & follow Liane - Website | Instagram

Find & follow Lorna - Website | Instagram

No? Well you do now. Whether that's through actual money spent on advertising, energy on marketing or anything else - it all costs your and your business something.

So in this episode I share 3 quick ways to encourage repeat business from your previous customers to get them to keep coming back time and time again.

If you have any questions about is The Ecommerce Accelerator you can email me on hello@lornascully.com or come & join in the conversation over on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

In this episode I cover 4 of the biggest mistakes I see Small Businesses making when it comes to ticking off those all important buying objections.

If you have any questions about is The Ecommerce Accelerator you can email me on hello@lornascully.com or come & join in the conversation over on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

The messages we send to someone who has never heard of us before will likely be slightly different to those who have shown an interest. So, in this episode I cover:

• what interest could, and generally looks like in product based businesses
• why it's important to keep sharing a consistent message
• a deeper insight in to 2 of the 4 main areas we focus on improving when it comes to developing that interest

Have these got you thinking about changes you could make to your own content? Come and join in the conversation over on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

In this episode I share not only why getting awareness is important but the realities of what that looks like. AND other ways you can get started with reaching MORE people (that isn't instagram).

Awareness is what we work through during week 3 of The Ecommerce Accelerator. The group programme built for product based business owners to work on how they can create a repeatable, feel-good customer journey to help them sell more stuff.

If you're feeling stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out and like you're absolutely winging it then I hate to say it, but you're probably the root cause of that. You need to have an idea of what you'll be doing, launching or promoting in 6 months time. You don't need to have all the answers, but having an idea will help alleviate some of those feelings.

We cover planning during week 2 of The Ecommerce Accelerator, including all of the numbers & data that will help you do that. During this episode I wanted to give you an insight (and some homework) to get started on this process yourself.

How did you get on? Did you create the spreadsheet? Did anything surprise you? Come and join in the conversation over on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

First up, it's about finding clarity. As a small business owner your needs, your happiness and your goals are important. And we can't work out how to get somewhere unless we know what we're working towards.

So in this episode I share some prompts & questions yo ask yourself to find out what YOU really want. Why you do what you do and what success looks like to you.

If you feel like being brave, come and share your realisations on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

In this episode me and Christen cover things like:

→ Imposter Syndrome - what is it and why we get it

→ What is confidence

→ 3 top things to go and DO to help you with imposter syndrome & your mindset

Find & follow Christen: Instagram | Website

In this episode we chat about;

→ what it means to get to know your ideal customers

→ how to find & understanding values of your target audience

→ the important of market research and what that looks like

Find a follow Amy: Instagram | Website

However, to kick off a new year of podcast episodes, myself and Liane (aka. @thecontent.creator) bring the tough love of the realities of how much it costs to run a business. Because it does.

If you just want to and expect to run your business and it not cost you a penny, you may have a rude awakening. There are many things that add up quickly and yeah, some are not critical but they may save you time, energy & sanity!

In this episode, we open up about costs within our own businesses including things such as:

• Marketing
• Accountancy
• Insurance
• Business banking
• Outsourcing

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We'd love to get your take on the subject, so please do drop us a DM on Instagram to let us know your thoughts & feedback!

Liane's previous guest episode, her area of expertise & get to know her - Episode #55 - SEO & Shopify with Liane aka The Content Creator

Find & follow Liane - Website | Instagram

Find & follow Lorna - Website | Instagram

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ECOMMERCE ACCELERATOR [TEA]

In this episode I dug deep with Alex around the topic of starting a business and simply 'going for it'. We cover things like:

→ Her 3 biggest challenges only having been in business for less than a year

→ What made her launch a membership

→ Ways she's found best to market her service-based business

I absolutely loved this truly transparent, open and frank conversation with Alex. She's clear very passionate about helping people with PCOS, and she's very openly shared her journey in building a sustainable service based business, a membership to help her industry

Find & follow Alex: Instagram PCOS Collective | The PCOS Collective | Weight Inclusive Training Website | WIT Instagram

Maddy Russell, the founder of Paiv Creative, the branding designer who is on a mission to build brands that feel like home has a story that doesn't sound like everyone else's. When I asked Maddy to be a guest on the podcast it was because I was very aware of her work, especially for the likes of SheCanSheDid and The Parent Education Company. And in our pre-recording call, we chatted about the topic we could discuss.

Having heard how she got to where she is, not following the status quo after university, sitting I those rooms and being told that she literally needed to be louder, to change herself to be successful, she said hell no to that and created a business that works for her.

She attributes a lot of her success to simply knowing what was and wasn't for her. Clarity, such a powerful thing!

I absolute loved chatting the Maddy and I hope you can resonate with her story. And as cliché as they may have seemed, be sure to check out what would Maddy of 2021 say to Maddy from 3 years ago - all stellar advice!

Find, follow and work with Maddy: Website | Instagram

Once a month, we're going to be sharing our (and yours) gripes which we think some people just need to hear. We're officially dishing out the tough love.

In this episode of TLT, we're talking about the icks and irks of webinars. From the overpromises, the over pretentious titles & the misinformation, all the way to the format of the webinars and pricing.

We talk about;

• why we think people host webinars in the first place
• what we think you should do instead if you're going to host your own webinars
• what do look out for as a consumer who is looking at signing up for these webinars

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We'd love to get your take on the subject, so please do drop us a DM on Instagram to let us know your thoughts & feedback!

**The audio isn't the best, I apologise for this. However, as mentioned in my Season 2 announcement, I've decided to upload the completely authentic version of this episode - they're not edited. We tried a certain piece of software and will be switching to provide better sound moving forward.

Liane's previous guest episode, her area of expertise & get to know her - Episode #55 - SEO & Shopify with Liane aka The Content Creator

Find & follow Liane - Website | Instagram

Find & follow Lorna - Website | Instagram

In this episode we covered;

→ overcoming family pressures & acceptance

→ big lessons she's learnt from running paid campaigns & trying new product launches

→ what 3 things she would say to past Sasha

→ her opinion on using platforms like Etsy, Amazon & eBay

It was honestly such a joy to get the perspective of a small business owner who shows up, is in the thick of running her business, designing her products and riding the waves of growing a brand & business online.

Find, follow & buy from Sasha at Cheeky Zebra: Website | Instagram

Is it because of your ad or your offer? In this weeks episode I spoke to the incredible Jackie Muscat, the woman in the know when it comes to helping course creators and coaches sell more. We discussed

→ the importance of language

→ persuasion triggers within your copy (both in ads AND landing pages)

→ the biggest mistakes Jackie sees on the daily.

I personally learned a lot from talking to Jackie and it's helped me make changes to my own business so I just know you're going to love this episode. Whether you're thinking about running paid social media ads or wondering why you're not converting those who arrive on your landing page, this episode will give you some great tips & starting points!

Join the conversation! Let me know what you thought about todays episode over on Instagram - @LornaScullyUK

And you can find, follow & work with Jackie: Website | Instagram

During this weeks episode I chat to Therese about all things wholesale. I've found it forever fascinating and I think you will do. We cover;

→ the importance of pricing your products right to make sure you can wholesale

→ some of the biggest mistakes she sees on a day-to-day basis

→ plus she breaks down the process of getting you and your business ready

If you own a product based business, this episode is for you! It was wonderful to chat to Therese and really learn something myself. We also touched on the topic of putting ourselves out there more and so much more.

Get involved in the conversation and let me know what you think/what you learned from this episode over on Instagram - @LornaScullyUK

Find, follow and work with Therese here: Website | Instagram

In the first TLT, we're talking about why people use the term 'WE' rather than 'I' when you're simply running a business on your own, why it's a gripe for us & other perspectives from our community on Instagram.

We'd love to get your take on the subject, so please do drop us a DM on Instagram to let us know your thoughts & feedback!

**The audio isn't the best, I apologise for this. However, as mentioned in my Season 2 announcement, I've decided to upload the completely authentic version of this episode - they're not edited. We tried a certain piece of software and will be switching to provide better sound moving forward.

Liane's previous guest episode, her area of expertise & get to know her - Episode #55 - SEO & Shopify with Liane aka The Content Creator

Find & follow Liane - Website | Instagram

Find & follow Lorna - Website | Instagram

Over the last month or so we suffered the loss of an incredible human being, a family member of mine. And yet when it came to having to continue running a business that pays the bills and cope with grief at the same time, it felt impossible. I had no clue how to deal with it.

Why? Because it's never talked about. And yet, death is inevitable. If you're a business owner for decades, it's highly likely that you are going to have to deal with the loss of a loved one. Whether it's a parent, a friend or a pet - you are entitled to grieve in whatever way you need to. Pain is pain. Grief is grief. You're allowed to, just know that.

Your business will not die. The world will not stop turning. You're going to get through it, I promise.

And this episode I just wanted to share my experience in the hope it would help someone. Because it's a reality of being a business owner.

If you ever want to talk to someone, you want to get involved in open discussions, be a guest, whatever - Let's chat! We're all human and we all need to support each other.

My DMs and inbox are always open. Find me on Instagram > @lornascullyuk

And today's she's going to chat to us all about mindfulness, why it's important and how we can incorporate it into our busy, online, daily lives.

Emma gives us a quick grounding exercise to go through together which will bring us back to being aware of our surroundings; we chat about paying attention with purpose; how it can relate to running your business day-to-day and so much more.

If you found what Emma was talking about interesting, you can find her: Website | Instagram

BUT, in this episode, I share some personal opinions (yes we all have them!) about at least 5 different Email Service Providers (ESPs), the pros and cons of each including pricing and my experience of using them. Plus, if you're just starting out / if you want to jump in feet-first, my personal recommendation for which platform to pick.

If you found value in this episode, any shares or feedback is always welcome, please drop me a DM on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

Plus you'll get an insight into some of the changes coming to the podcast, my thoughts and feelings on why aaaaand just a nosey into my business at the minute!

89% of business currently do not use segmentation within their email strategy and that's crazy! I cover what segmentation is, why it's important and some examples of how it could drive some real results for your business.

Ps. Don't be like ASOS. (You'll have to listen to the episode to find out what I'm talking about 😉)

Get your ticket to The Email Challenge - June

She clearly has a passion for helping value-led brands level up their words across all digital platforms. Whether it's a sales page, product descriptions or Instagram captions you need help with, Em is your girl!

In this episode we chat about;

→ Emily's background and how she became such a fabulous copywriter

→ A brief (potentially controversial) rant about the new 'lockdown' social media managers

→ If you're struggling with selling and feeling 'icky', how copy writing is the easiest way to inject some commerciality

→ How and why to evoke emotion

→ Em shares a bloody brilliant analogy - 'the drinks party'

→ She does a live critique of my Instagram bio and gives you a simple template to follow to make yours the best it can be.

I'm pretty miffed that the audio isn't the best it could possibly be during this episode, but it was too good to throw away. I hope you find great value in it - if you do make sure you leave a review or screenshot and share to your Instagram Stories and tag myself (@LornaScullyUK) and Emily too!

Find Emily: Inkpot & Press Website | Instagram

In this episode we chat about:

→ The book that helped Sarah jump from her marketing manager position in to the full-time business owner

→ The challenges she faced whilst creating her brand, including the worries around the community she wants to be apart of

→ Why she loves running a small business

→ How she first got into collaborating with other business owners and some tips if that's something you'd like to do

→ Her opinion on Etsy, from an Etsy seller

And so much more.

If you're a small business owner, I think you'll gain a lot from listening to Sarah chat about her fabulous business. It just goes to show that sometimes when we think we're not doing okay, or we should be doing a certain way - we're not alone.

Make sure you pop and give Sarah a follow on Instagram and check out her personalised products too - I'd personally recommend them, the quality is insanely good!

Find Sarah: Lone Owl Studio Website | Instagram

In today's episode, I invited my pal Liane Abrams aka. The Content Creator to come and give us the DL on how we can get started with SEO, specifically for Shopify websites.

Now, don't get me wrong, we covered A LOT in this episode, so even if you haven't got a website on Shopify, you'll likely pick up a thing or two from Liane's knowledge bombs.

And as always, if you find this episode useful then please do make sure you share it on socials, spread the word and tag me and Liane and we'll be sure to share your wonderful comments.

If SEO is something that you would like to learn more about and improve for your business, especially if you have a website built on either Shopify, Wix or Squarespace, then make sure you register your interest for the Zero to SEO Hero Course launch on Liane's website.

You can find Liane on: The Content Creator Website | Instagram

Today I'm answering the question 'How do I build my email subscriber list?'

In this episode, I give you an explanation about value exchange, what that actually means, why it's important and what it could look like for you.

Plus, give you some of the best spots with examples of where you can be promoting your email list!

Are you ready to get on top your email game?

The Email Challenge > Sign Up - https://www.lornascully.com/product/the-email-challenge/

In this episode, I share my personal thoughts and feelings about building a business on a 3rd party selling site. BUT more importantly, how you can start to build your own database of fabulous email subscribers if that's where you're at right now.

The Email Challenge, 5 prompts in 5 days: Get your ticket!

Episode 52: How Often Should I Email My Subscribers?

Episode 26 with Ruth from XOXO Designs

Use a link shortener: try bit.ly

31 email content ideas: https://www.lornascully.com/emails/

Share your thoughts or send me your question on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

If you're looking for a quick fix answer to this question, then this episode probably isn't for you. However, I do give some ideas and questions for you to think about to be able to answer this question for yourself in a way that works for you and your business. 

Get the 31 content prompts mentioned in the episode > https://www.lornascully.com/emails/

Share your thoughts or send me your question on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

Fi and her lovely team are on a mission to help female business owners in the UK. She's created the first benefits programme to do just that. 

In this episode we chat about:

→ The journey of She Can. She Did. so far

→ How she pivoted and what that looked like for a business like SC.SD.

→ How the launch of the UK's first female-focused benefits programme didn't quite go as well as she'd planned

→ Reflection on pitching for investment and the lessons she learnt

→ An insight into the 5 part open letter to female business owners that Fi so carefully and eloquently put together back in January

→ All things Instagram and business - the good the bad and the ugly.

→ Judging, cancel culture and begin afraid to speak our truth

and so much more...

As I mention in the opening, Fi was one of the very few I felt comfortable reaching out to when I first started my self employed journey in April 2019. Having her as a guest has been a dream of mine, and I'm so thrilled I could share her wisdom and just incredible outlook with you.

If you found this at all useful, all the shares and passing it on to pals that you think may like it would mean the world to me.

Find Fi: Instagram

So in this episode I share 7 (possibly ramble lessons) I've learnt in creating 49 podcast episodes. And I think each and every one of them could probably be associated to some other area of business or even life in general.

If you make it all the way through, there is a cheeky little giveaway at the end. You've got to be in it to win it! Don't forget to share and tag me @LornaScullyUK to be in for a chance of winning.

Entries close Wednesday 21st April.

Good luck 🍀

In this episode I quickly cover 3 of the common things to look in to/consider if you feel that you're not converting enough visitors on your website.

If you found this episode useful then please give it a share on social media and tag me @LornaScullyUK - I'll be sure to share each and every one.

Plus, If you listen to the whole episode you'll get a sneaky peek in to what's coming next week!

With a passion for helping female-led, product businesses with their social content, especially Instagram, I knew I just had to get Carmela on the podcast.

During our conversation we chat about:

✨ Challenges she’s faced with starting a business during a pandemic

✨ Why she doesn’t want to be known as an agency

✨ Why having a face behind your brand is important 

✨ Most common challenges she sees with clients 

✨ Her advice when it comes to showing up on camera, Instagram stories etc. 

✨ What ‘value’ means - especially to product based businesses

✨ Do small businesses have unrealistic sales goals?

✨ Top 3 tips to be aware of to help growing your business on Instagram

If you find this episode useful, please do share and tag myself and Carmela and we'll be sure to share them!

Find Carmela: Website | Instagram

Meet Ash Jones, the Founder of Great Influence, the personal branding agency behind the UK's Biggest CEOs & Founders including; 

Steven Bartlett (Founder, Social Chain)

Oliver Cookson (My Protein),

Umar Kamani (Pretty Little Thing)

Dom McGregor (Founder, Social Chain)

Katy Leeson (MD, Social Chain)

Carrie Rose, (Rise At Seven)

I think you’ll agree with me - the guy knows a thing or two when it comes to building personal brands right - they’re some bloody incredible names! 

In this very open and honest episode we chat about; 

→ What actually IS personal branding 

→ How Ash got in to it in the first place

→ And insight in to how it became a thing at Social Chain, and what lessons he learnt from that

→ The emotional journey that personal branding makes you take and how to ride the rollercoaster

→ He also shares two of the key things you need to if you’re thinking about starting your own personal branding journey

I hope you found this conversation useful, I know I did. If you did make sure you share it with your audience as you never know who it may help.

You can find Ash: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram 

In this episode I'm chatting to Laura Hopkins, founder of Elegant Designs Ltd. & The Wedding Emporium. Laura is a client and a great friend, and when I shared screenshot of her analytics after we worked on her Instagram strategy in January, I just HAD to get her on the podcast. The amount of DMs I received was crazy! You all wanted to know HOW she did it.

Now, don't be fooled, Laura did a lot of work, which is just one of the tings we discuss during this episode.

We also chat about:

✨ How Laura has started not one, but two wedding businesses

✨ How the global pandemic has affected her business and how she's dealt with that

✨ What it took to grow her Instagram account from 1500 to 15k followers in 3 months - and WHY that was important to her

✨ What she's working on for the wedding industry to support supplier and soonlyweds

✨ What other challenges she's faced along the way

If you find this episode useful, please do share and tag myself and Laura and we'll be sure to share them!

Find Markie: Website | Instagram

In this episode we chat about:

✨ The big differences between corporates & small business  

✨ The common challenges and mistakes small businesses are making online

✨ Where local businesses should start if they're going online for the first time

If you find this episode useful, please do share and tag myself and Markie and we'll be sure to share them!

Find Markie: Website | Instagram

It's one of those channels that can seem daunting to small business owners and it really doesn't need to be.

For the free download mentioned in the episode, head to www.lornascully.com/emails

It's one of those channels that can seem daunting to small business owners and it really doesn't need to be.

For the free download mentioned in the episode, head to www.lornascully.com/emails

It's one of those channels that can seem daunting to small business owners and it really doesn't need to be.

For the free download mentioned in the episode, head to www.lornascully.com/emails

It's one of those channels that can seem daunting to small business owners and it really doesn't need to be.

For the free download mentioned in the episode, head to www.lornascully.com/emails

It's one of those channels that can seem daunting to small business owners and it really doesn't need to be.

For the free download mentioned in the episode, head to www.lornascully.com/emails

And what a fabulous job she does too!

In this episode we chat about:

✨ Comparing ourselves to big-time entrepreneurs  

✨ Are you posting to grow a following? Or to build your business?

✨ How to find a balance between sales posts and brand building posts - so it doesn’t feel like you’re constantly selling! 

✨ The psychology behind people buying products - using storytelling to sell more. 

✨ Leticia’s journey with burnout and what impact it’s had on her business 

✨ Her thoughts on mindset - the shift from thinking it’s all BS to working on it.

✨ Self awareness & journalling and what impact that’s had on business 

✨What success means to her

I feel like this was a very open and frank conversation that many will be able to relate to, I know I definitely could.

Please do share and tag myself and Leticia if you give it a listen!

Find Leticia: Website | Instagram | Leticias Free Lesson

And what a fabulous job she does too!

In this episode we chat about 

✨ How The Pocket VA came to be and the changes she's been through

✨ The common struggles and challenges both service-based and product-based business go to Laura with

✨ How to change your mindset around using Instagram to promote your business

✨ 5 of the most common mistakes you're likely making on Instagram (watch out, I felt absolutely SEEN and called out at this point)

✨ Laura shared her very clever and succinct explanation of what 'value' means - especially for product business

✨ Examples of how to create content when you're showing up as a brand and not as an individual

I hope you gain some takeaways from Laura and this episode, I know I sure did! Instagram can be an overwhelming place and if you're struggling to make it fun or know what to post, I would highly recommend investing in Laura, she is definitely the lady in the know! 

Please do share and tag myself and Laura if you give it a listen!

Find Laura: Website | Instagram | The Pocket Shop

Last week I had a bit of realisation around the terminology of what I call myself and what others see me as when they work with me. It started as a real open string of Instagram Stories, turned in to an IGTV (because frankly I didn't feel like I could communicate that again the morning after!)

And then when I asked if followers would like to listen in to my though process and if they wanted a solo podcast episode, it was a resounding YES! So here we are.

Even thought I've been scared to in the past, my diary episode and reflections on last year got so much incredible feedback that I wanted to kind of give a bit of an update on my diary. And this is where I have to tell you that I do get a little upset in this episode and if you are affected by death whatsoever, please do not put yourself in to any distress by listening to this episode.

Unfortunately I got news of an incredible man, an old colleague passing away last month and I wanted to share, as sad as it is that it takes something like this for this wake up call, what I was currently thinking and how it's affected me. Because in all honesty it has.

As always, if you do listen to this, resonate in any way or just enjoy it, please do leave me a review wherever you're listening (it will help more people find it) and make sure you share it either on your stories or anywhere else and tag - I promise I'll share them!

Thanks so much for listening to me babble, I hope it helps in some way shape or form. I hope you find some comfort in it. And please, please look after yourself. Take Care, Lorna x

Stacey is the founder of Darwin & Gray, the beautiful handmade, designed and painted products perfect for your home. With a range of quirky yet relatable banners from "Don't be a dick" and "Piss off I'm busy" to family keepsake banners like "Twas the night" that will no doubt be in the family for years to come. All the way to patches, decals and glassware too!

In this episode we chat about

✨ When and how Darwin & Gray started

✨ The challenges of running a handmade business and sending out orders during the Christmas period, during a pandemic (AND getting hate mail!)

✨ Having a digital detox and the impact that’s had

✨ A brief chat on planning content for the likes of Instagram 

✨ I finally get my question answered about how her open/shut website concept works

✨ The most challenging times she’s faced

✨ And from lows to very much highs - what it felt like to be nominated and be a finalist in The Independent Awards with Holly Tucker

✨ What’s coming next for Darwin & Gray 

I hope you find some value in this episode, Stacey has definitely faced some challenges whilst building her business which I think many of us can relate to. If nothing else, know that if you're in the lows right now, you're not alone, it's totally normal & the highs are coming!

Please do share and tag myself and Stacey if you give it a listen!

Find Stacey aka. Darwin & Gray: Website | Instagram

I think it's safe to say Beth, like many of us is bored of the BS we see in the online world and so I wanted to firstly, get her take and opinion on that (I have no doubt you'll agree with her on many of them!) But also to help YOU.

In this episode we chat about

✨ How she got to be a photographer (and all the wonderful jobs she had before!)

✨ Her proudest achievement

✨ Going back to employment after she took the jump to go self employed

✨ How she found her clients & the people she surrounded herself with 

✨Why photography is SO important for all types of businesses

✨ 3 top tips for getting the best photos if you’re going to take them yourself 

✨Advice Beth would give to any aspiring photographers

I absolutely loved chatting the Beth, and feel like I could've for hours! I hope you find some value in this episode too. Please do share and tag myself and Beth if you give it a listen!

Find Beth: Website | Instagram

When I saw her personality throughout her social channels and website, with references to Devil Wears Prada and The Breakfast Club, It really solidified why copy is so important. We're all evoked by emotions, but commonalities and I certainly had some of those with Emily.

During this conversation we chat about:

✨ How Emily came to be a copywriter and her background

✨ How she mainly attracts her clients - practicing what she preaches

✨ Some examples of some amazing brands we both love that use the power of words to attract their tribe

✨ Her biggest challenges as a small business - We can ALL relate to this one! 

✨ 2 common mistakes she sees small businesses making and how you can change them

✨ The perfect example of what a tone of voice IS and how to create one. 

I loved chatting the Emily, she really knows her stuff and I can hear the passion in her voice for helping small businesses get better with words.

I hope you find some value in this episode too. Please do share and tag myself and Emily if you give it a listen!

Find Emily: Website | Instagram

After working in the corporate world, having two breakdowns and everything in between, Jo now spend her time helping other people manage their mental health at work and make work, work for them.

And what a bloody good job she does too!

During this conversation we chat about:

✨ Where the name Mad and Sad Club came from & how the business came to be

✨ The transition from corporate to self employment 

✨ How she uses her lived experience to impact organisations & individuals 

✨ Dealing through pivoting her business through the pandemic and finding coping mechanisms when it comes to consuming news etc. (top tip, we both love the Instagram account @simplepolitics)

✨ Biggest challenges in terms of running a business - a relatively new business (under 2 years)

✨ Jo introduces us to the world of neuroplasticity and neural pathways 

✨ We get a behind the scenes peak at what she’s looking forward to over the coming weeks & get excited for her too! 

It was an absolute joy to chat to Jo, I love everything that she stands for and teaches and empowers others to do. I hope you find some value in this episode too. Please do share and tag myself and Jo if you give it a listen!

Find Jo: Website | Instagram

Natalia, the fabulous mind behind Storylign is based in Dublin and has always had a passion for stories: reading them, telling them, writing them. And now works with brands to craft copy that will WOW your audience!

During this conversation we chat about:

✨ Her REAL identity 😂

✨ How she found herself in copywriting

✨ The difference between copywriting and content writing

✨ How product based businesses can craft better content

✨ Tips for being a better writer (I obviously asked for personal benefit!)

✨ Top tips for people are more talkers, than writers

✨ What to do if you feel like you're a bit stuck or you're losing that spark

It was an absolute joy to chat to Natalia and I really, personally learnt a lot. I hope you find some value in this episode too. Please do share and tag myself and Natalia if you give it a listen!

Find Cat: Website | Instagram | The Brand Voice Workbook

During this conversation we chat about:

✨ Looking back, did she always want to be a web designer

✨ The mistakes she's learnt along the way

✨ What business looks like for her now (and her amazing new work/life balance)

✨ And some of the things that got her to where she is today

It was an absolute joy to chat to Cat and it's been so lovely to watch her business grow to where she's at now. I think we could all learn a thing or two from her.

Find Cat: Website | Instagram 

And then I went for a walk, and BAM, I had to shorten this list. But I’m all about not abiding by the unwritten rules, if I want to share 23, I’ll share 23!

So in this solo episode, join me for an hour long look in to my brain ad the 23 (only some of!) the lessons I learnt this year, some of the thinking I've done as we approach a brand new year and some things that may just get you thinking.

I would absolutely love it if you could share your thoughts on this episode, share with your community or if any of my points made you think then let me know in my Instagram DMs.

And if I don't talk to you before, Happy New Year 🎉

During this conversation we chat about:

✨ Journey from starting a blog to business coach 

✨ Her original dream job

✨ The importance of data and reviewing your analytics as a business owner

✨ How to work out what your ‘needle moving’ activities are, plus some examples

✨ What business may look like with a newborn baby and sharing how to take time off (to start a family or just a break)

✨ Biggest challenge when starting and growing her business

✨ Her top 3 tips if you’re just getting started.

Find Holly: Website | Instagram 

In this episode we cover;

• The story of how she discovered she wanted to be a writer (and the career path she almost went on instead)
• Her journey through employment and how it all, abruptly came to a halt
• Facing challenges with confidence and overcoming external expectations set on us by society
• How social media has helped her create a community and build real human connections
• The impact of talking openly about mental health and how it's made her relatable
• What's next for her...

You can find Fiona : Website | Instagram | Out Of Office Book

You can expect to hear;

→ Some of the challenges she faced growing up, going to university and studying a subject that may seem irrelevant now.

→ How she landed her first photography jobs

→ Some of the hardest challenges she's faced and overcome

→ The benefits of branded photography and some top tips on how to find the right photographer for you and to be prepared for the shoot.

If you want to find out more about Sophie and book her services you can find her here: Website | Instagram

She creates a whole host of colourful creative pieces including greetings cards, prints, pins and patches - everything you could ever want really!

During our conversation we chatted about:

→ How she started the business

→ The transition from a 'side hustle' on top of a full-time retail job, to a full-time gig

→ What marketing channels she's using to promote her business

→ Some of the challenges she's faced in her 7 years of business

→ She even shares her opinion on Etsy vs. her own website

Ruth was an absolute JOY to chat to and I think you'll really find some value in listening to this episode from someone who has been in business for 7 years!

You can find Ruth here: Website | Instagram

It was a resounding yes, and so here it is! In this episode I chat through 8 points that made it in to my diary this week.

You can expect to hear;

👉🏻 a discovery I made about myself and my business

👉🏻 some resources that helped me (here's the link to the one I promised - https://youtu.be/u4ZoJKF_VuA)

👉🏻 a slight rant about how we treat people online

👉🏻 a slip up that I talk about a lot, and yet did myself this week and felt terrible for it

👉🏻 and so much more...

As two marketing experts, in the industry, we agree that there is a lot of noise online at the moment and so we wanted to break it down and make it super simple!

You can expect to hear:

→ how Claire has got to where she is within her career (you'd never guess it!)

→ how to pick the online channels that work for you and your business (+ how to ignore the noise behind it!)

→ Claire shares her 3 top tips to growing your business right now!

If you would like to find out a bit more about Claire and her products, services and webinars you can find her website at: moxieva.co.uk and she's on Instagram @moxieva

In this episode I chat to Emma about some of her experiences, challenges and highs too! We cover things such as:

✨ her experience & thoughts a year on from having her original Instagram account hacked

✨ her 3 top tips for someone just starting out in business

✨ what the plans for the future for BeauTie are (they're very exciting!)

Keep up with what Emma is up to over on her Instagram and grab yourself a scrunchie via her link in her bio - Instagram > @beautieuk_

In this solo episode, I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings around how small businesses could take a bit of a risk, that will results in a short-term sacrifice for a long term gain.

This is honestly just my personal thoughts and feelings, and if I had a product based business, what I would do. But it may just resonate with you and spark that idea for you.

Please do share this episode if you chose to listen to it and take me @lornascullyuk on Instagram and I'll be sure to share all posts & stories!

And what a community it is.

In this episode I got to ask Jess all of my questions including, why she started the Coworking Club, and how. What has been her biggest challenges in 'pivoting' the business during the global pandemic, what channels she's found most useful when trying to reach a wider audience and also what the future looks like for The Coworking Club.

Full disclosure, I am part of the club, I genuinely think it's a great community and something we, as self-employed business owners, forget to think about before it feels like it's almost too late.

If you'd like to find out more about the Coworking Club or sign up to join when the doors open again you can find their website at www.thecoworkingclub.co.uk and Jess runs their fabulous Instagram @thec0workinglcub

Facebook Ads can be a real investment for your business, but you also shouldn't be scared off by the horror stories or thinking that they're just not easy to understand.

Give this episode a listen if you fancy gaining an insight in to how I work that magic number out for clients and don't forget for more tips, to follow me over on Instagram @LornaScullyUK

During this episode I chat tot he lovely Holly Pryce about all things web development. She's been building websites since she was 14 years old, and so she knows a thing or two.

We talk about how to find the template if you're looking to get up and running quickly and relatively cheaply, we cover when you'd know when to hire a developer and so much more.

It can seem overwhelming when it comes to thinking about hiring a developer, especially since I've heard some horror stories, but it really doesn't have to be and Holly makes it so easy to understand.

If you think Holly is the web dev for you, you can find her:

On her website > https://hollypryce.com

And on Instagram > @hollyprycedev

Stories, our experiences are what make us unique and human. 'People buy from people' remember! And in this episode I quiz the lovely Stacey on how small businesses could be utilising telling stories, where and we find the stories in the first place and so much more.

I honestly loved recording this episode and I know you're going to love it too. Stacey knows how to make things so simple and easy to understand. If you would like Stacy's help you can find her on Instagram @the.modern.storyteller or via her website > www.themodernstoryteller.co.uk

In this episode we chat about branding strategy, how it's not just about a logo and colours and the other components that really go in to building a sustainable brand.

You can find Emma on her website and on Instagram:

https://typegal.com/branding

https://instagram.com/typegalstudio

I chat to the lovely Michelle Gately about how she got started with podcasting, what tasks to do before you even buy the mic or worry about how to edit a podcast episode and she also mentions some really great ideas for current business podcasts. PLUS, put on the spot, Michelle shares some great ways to create the perfect podcast concept for your business.

If you think Michelle is the perfect person to help you start your podcast (she totally is!) then you can find her over on Instagram @unfinishedbookshelf

I was getting a little frustrated by seeing it all over Instagram and Facebook and yet no one was really sharing what that actually means. That's why I invited the fabulous Julia Day from The Independent Girls Collective on to the podcast.

Julia shows up on Instagram effortlessly and so in this episode we discuss; what showing up actually means, why it's different for every business and doesn't look the same for everyone. We also touched on some really important points including how to get started if you're just scared right now, some great examples to go and watch including @beautieuk_ @pollyvdsz & @fionalikestoblog.

Make sure you go and follow Julia over on Instagram - she's at @independentgirlscollective and you can sign up for the waiting list for the membership & find out all about her services on her website > https://independentgirlscollective.com

In this episode I talk to Kate Smoothy from Web Hive Digital about the ins and outs of choosing which platform to build your website on because - let's face it, there's a lot fo choice.

We cover;

• The four big platforms - Wix, Squarespace, Shopify & WordPress
• We chat about the pros and cons of each
• We briefly cover the cost differences
• Kate shares some amazing tips on things you should do BEFORE you build your own website or approach a website designer

Kate clearly knows her stuff and if you'd like to find out more about how you can work with her you can find her:

On her website > https://webhivedigital.com

On Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/webhivedigital/

In this episode I chat toe Jules Brim of Marketing Mixology about all things community. We chat through what community building is, why it’s so important and Jules also gives some great examples of where and HOW to start building a community. 

Jules came super prepared and even shared with us two campaigns of brands that had put the time and effort in to building their community and we talked about, or I put her on the spot should I say, about what advice she would give a particular handmade business if they were thinking about it.

Building a community, as a topic of conversation can seem overwhelming, daunting perhaps. As always I’ve tried to play devils advocate a little to make sure we dive real deep and make it as simple to understand as physically possible, and I’m not ashamed to say I definitely learnt a lot from Jules just through this conversation.

If you loved listening to Jules as much as I loved chatting to her you can find her in all of these places, PLUS the links to the campaigns we discuss during the episode:

Bodyform - https://www.bodyform.co.uk/our-world/why-our-wombstories-need-to-be-heard/

Manners - https://www.mannersldn.com/

Jules - https://www.marketingmixologyservices.com/

Small Biz Basics page - https://www.marketingmixologyservices.com/small-biz-basics

We chat about;⁠

• Why working on your website in terms of optimising it rather than just constantly slogging away on social media is important.⁠
• Search intent - what is it, what does it mean and why is it important?⁠
• And also, Holly shares some really great ways to get started, regardless of what type of business you’re in for creating content that will help you get ranked by the likes of Google!⁠

If you agree with me that Holly is a BOSS when it comes to SEO and you'd like to connect with her and potentially work with her, you can find her in all of these wonderful places;

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Linkedin

Pinterest

In this episode I share a few top tips that will help you get started with creating your profile, what the verification process looks like AND how to optimise your profile to make sure you get the most traffic to.

I cover the 3 core types of listing and how to really get the most from it, but once again, this is not a checkbox task! It's not TICK and it's done!

I hope you enjoy the episode, any feedback or reviews would be greatly appreciated!

That's just one of the reasons I invited Kelly Morel from Happy Communications on to the podcast to share her insane level of knowledge and give away some top tips too.

We chatted about how to best prepare for any press coverage, what you should include in a press release and how to find the right journalists and how to get in front of them.

You can find Kelly in all these wonderful places:

Website: https://www.happycommunications.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happycoms/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HappyComs

It’s a topic that comes up quite regularly and can also stump a lot of people. And I get it, it can seem quite techy and truth be told, like overwhelming - right?

Jargon and tech speak is not what I’m about so, expect there to be lots of episodes around SEO, because if you want to be REALLY good at it, then yes there’s a lot to it, but in todays episode I want to keep it light and fluffy and simple to digest.

I thought I’d start by explaining what SEO is, why you should give a damn, and just a few things you can do right now that will have an impact. 

You can also find the link to the freebie mentioned towards the end of the episode right here > https://www.lornascully.com/freebies/

I believe branding is SUPER important, but I'll hold my hands up and tell you when I don't know enough. And on branding, I honestly don't. That's why I invited the fabulous Krishna Solanki on this episode to explain a few things...

1) Why branding isn't just a logo

2) Why branding is so important

And we also had a chinwag about some very well known examples that you've probably heard of before.

Enjoy!

If you're looking for a fresh pair of knowledgable eyes on your business branding, you can find Krishna in all these places:

Website: https://www.krishnasolankidesigns.com

Instagram: @KrishnaSolankiDesigns

In this episode, I wanted to cover some of the reasons why I LOVE Pinterest for business, why I think more of us should use it and the benefits. PLUS, give you 5 top tips for getting started if you're new to it.

On top of that, I'll be hosting my 5 Day FREE Pinterest Challenge, starting Monday 13th July which you will receive a simple email every morning (Monday - Friday) with tips, advice and actions that you can take to start growing your Pinterest account. PLUS, there will be some exclusive discounts & announcements made during the week, so if you're nosey like me, you can sign up right here > https://www.lornascully.com/pinterest-marketing-101/

In this episode I cover 7 email automations that businesses can set up once and let them run, bringing in more revenue each and every day. Who doesn't want to make more money and only doing the work once? I know I do.

Most of these will be most beneficial to product based ecommerce businesses, but even if you're a serviced based business, I might just spark an idea or two.

Enjoy, and please feel free to leave me a review or show me where you're listening from by tagging me @LornaScullyUK and I'll be sure to share them!

I'm shocked by how many people do not pay any attention to their analytics, insights etc. And I'm not talking about the important stuff, the stuff that makes you happy or sad like revenue & profit! I'm talking about Google Analytics, what's your websites bounce rate; How many link clicks did you get on your Facebook posts last month.

How do you know what you should be doing more or less of, if you don't know what is or isn't working?

I chat through just some of the metrics and channels to pay attention to in this episode. Enjoy!

Well, wonder no more. In this episode I chat to Charlotte from Blether Digital about working with influencers as small businesses. We cover things like what the difference between gifted & paid opportunities are, how to make sure you work with the right influencers and where to find them and also the type of work and value they can bring to your business.

If you're even consider working with influencers and you still feel a bit overwhelmed by it, then make sure you get in touch with Charlotte as she really does have a lot of knowledge about it! You can find her on Instagram - @bletherdigital

I KNOW there are people that believe they can build significant businesses without one, but in this episode I want to touch on 7 reasons why I think you should absolutely have a website for your small business.

This is isn't me preaching here, this is about building solid foundations for your business. To protect your business. And to ensure the largest growth.

Not only that, I dive in to the 4 main things you need in order to create a website and also give you a quick overview of 4 of the main platforms people use when building websites.

Do you have a website? Will this episode change your mind? Let me know

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I reference a great company I follow on Instagram called Snug Designs who create WordPress & SquareSpace templates. As promised, here's the link to their Insta @snugdesigns & website. If you consider each of these platforms, please consider supporting a small business if you can.

It doesn't have to be daunting! I've out together a different approach of working out who your target audience are. Remember, it's not set in stone and you're not saying you'll refuse anyone outside of this group. But you should be aiming your marketing at 'someone'. If you're trying to talk to everyone - you're talking to no one.

Let's talk about it!