Succeed As Your Own Boss

ENDING SMALL BUSINESS FAILURE

  • Home
  • About
  • Book Melinda
  • Consulting
  • SBL Store
  • SmallBizLady University
  • Free Tools
  • Podcast
  • #Smallbizchat
    • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • We’re Hiring!
You are here: Home / SmallBizChat Live+ / Small Business Sales and Marketing Secrets from the Pros

Small Business Sales and Marketing Secrets from the Pros

April 18, 2019 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Feel free to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print

April 17, 2019 FB Live - Small Business Sales and Marketing Secrets from the ProsThis week on #Smallbizchat LIVE, our show featured three guests: Online Marketing Secrets with Neil Patel @neilpatel, How to Use a Book to Promote Your Business with Stephanie Chandler, @Steph__Chandler, and How to Drive Retail Sales with Romina Brown, @ssiconsults.

 I pulled three of the best questions from each of them to share with you. Every third Wednesday of the month, Smallbizchat LIVE is broadcast on my SmallBizLady Facebook Page, YouTube channel and on Twitter @SmallBizLady.

Neil Patel is a New York Times best selling author. The Wall Street Journal calls him a top influencer on the web, Forbes says he is one of the top 10 marketers, and Entrepreneur Magazine says he created one of the 100 most brilliant companies. He was recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama and a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 35 by the United Nations. Learn more at neilpatel.com

 SmallBizLady: It can be overwhelming when it comes to figuring out what is the best strategy to drive traffic, increase conversions, rank optimization. If you were to recommend a CRO plan for those just starting out, what would it consist of?

Neil Patel: CRO starts with data gathering. If you just run tests based on your gut you will just lose money. I would start off with both quantitative and qualitative data. Based on what common objections that keep coming up, I would then run tests that answer those objections and go from there.

SmallBizLady: Digital marketing is changing at a rapid pace. Where do you see it going in the next 2-5 years…and how can we be proactive and prepare?

Neil Patel: You will start seeing it integrated more offline. From your fridge to physical devices you use on a regular day, marketing will become tied in with these devices. For example your fridge will eventually tell you what food you are about to run out of and automatically order it for you. It will eventually display coupons and deals for other competing brands… that’s where digital marketing is heading.

SmallBizLady: What are some tips you have for entrepreneurs just starting off? What are some mistakes they need to avoid to ensure they launch a successful company?

Neil Patel: You are going to make a lot of mistakes. Focus on speed and learn from your mistakes. As long as you avoid making the same mistake over and over again, eventually you learn what not to do.

Stephanie Chandler is the author of several books including The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan: The Professional Guide to Profitable Self-Publishing and The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan: Online and Offline Promotion Strategies to Build Your Audience and Sell More Books. Stephanie is also founder and CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association, a vibrant educational community for writers, and the Nonfiction Writers Conference, twice-yearly events conducted entirely online. Learn more at http://stephaniechandler.com/

SmallBizLady: How can a book help promote a business?

Stephanie Chandler: Authoring a book makes you an instant AUTHORity in your field. It can impress prospective clients, help to generate leads, add credibility so you can raise your rates, attract media attention, and help you get booked for speaking engagements. A book is truly the ultimate business card!

SmallBizLady: How can a book help to generate leads?

Stephanie Chandler: Send copies of your book to potential clients and watch the magic happen! I like to think of it this way. If I were going to hire a personal trainer to get in shape, I would interview at least two trainers. Most likely their programs would be pretty similar, but if one of them handed me a book, I’d immediately be impressed and far more likely to hire that trainer.

The same is true for financial advisors, consultants, coaches, medical professionals, computer pros, and anyone else with a service-based business.

 SmallBizLady: For business owners who want to land speaking gigs, how can a book help?

Stephanie Chandler: Simply adding “author” to your title can go a long way in helping you book speaking engagements. You can also send books to key contacts and decision-makers who book speakers. Every speaker I know would tell you that a book helps speakers land more opportunities.

Romina Brown is a founder and CEO with a deep background in strategic planning and integrated marketing — having worked for and with world-renowned CPG, Beauty, Apparel and Real Estate brands. Romina leads a team of executives and project managers in illuminating insights to inform, strategic development and execution of best-in-class programs for our dynamic base of clients. SSI represents some of the largest and fastest growing brands in their respective industries. Learn more at http://ssiconsults.com/

SmallBizLady: What do you think are some of the major challenges retailers are facing and how does it impact CPG manufacturers?

Romina Brown:

  1. They must recognize that Online and B&M go hand in hand because the competitive landscape has shifted.
  2. They have to solve for challenges they have not had to consider in the past.
  3. They must re-imagine and maximize shopper ROI.

SmallBizLady: What are some of the key strategies that manufacturers can use to drive their retail sales?

Romina Brown:

  1. Understand the market and the consumers within that market.
  2. Integration of Deep Contextual Insights from Category Management.
  3. Focus on Innovation and Disruption.
  4. Become Category Partners with Key retailers.
  5. Understand retail levers that drive sales (seasonality, consumer demand, promotional merchandising, pricing, etc…).

SmallBizLady: What exactly is Category Management and how can it be used to drive retail sales?

Romina Brown:

  1. It should now be considered Category Growth Management – It is an objective approach to any category where experts gather, evaluate and integrate data points to illuminate insights that create opportunities to allow manufacturers and retailers to innovate in the white spaces.
  2. The purpose is to arrive at insights that will lead to Real Growth.  Real Growth is Consumer Driven, Sustained Growth.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a guest on #Smallbizchat? Click here to submit your pitch.

Join us every Wednesday from 8-9 pm ET; follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter to stay up to date on our upcoming guests.

Here’s how to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/1hZeIlz

Feel free to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, SmallBizChat Live+ Tagged With: marketing, marketing secrets, online marketing, promoting your business, retail, retail sales, sales, sales secrets, writing a book

Fix Your Business Now!

Order SmallBizLady's new book Fix Your Business, 90-Day plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business. It includes the 12 Ps of Running a Successful Business and readers will finish the book with a new strategic plan to take their business to the next level.

About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social selling, and online marketing strategy. As CEO of Quintessence Group, her Philadelphia-based marketing consulting firm serves Fortune 500 brands that target the small business market. Clients include Amazon, Adobe, Verizon, VISA, Google, FedEx, Chase, American Express, The Hartford, and Pitney Bowes. She also has an online school, www.smallbizladyuniversity.com, that teaches people online marketing and how to start and grow a successful small business and publishes a blog SucceedAsYourOwnBoss.com. Her advice is widely read, reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She hosts The Smallbizchat Podcast and is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded, and Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • tiktok
  • pinterest
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • feedburner

Sign up for the SmallBizLady BUZZ Newsletter and be the first to receive updates and details about upcoming events:

We’re proud to be part of the Mediaplanet Empowering Small Business campaign! The COVID-19 pandemic brought hardship and ruin on the nation’s small businesses, but there’s now reason for hope. Learn about the resources, support, and tools available to help your small business bounce back and grow stronger than ever by picking up a copy of the campaign in USA Today and reading it online here.

Get a FREE Chapter of SmallBizLady’s Book,
"Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded"!

Become Your Own Boss

Most Popular Posts

>Seven Ways to be More Profitable in Your Small Business
> 7 Ways to Attract Customers to Your Small Business
> 6 Tips for Managing Small Business Finances
> How to Run a Successful Multilevel Marketing Business
> 10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business With Instagram
> How to Sell on Facebook
> How to Get Over the Fear of Starting a New Business

Featured Videos

Bloomberg News Interview
How to Support Small Businesses During the Holidays

National Speakers Association
Winter Conference

Fox 29 Philadelphia
'Small Biz Lady' gives best advice for starting a new business in the New Year

Fox Business
Starting a Business

MSNBC
The importance of job mentoring for women

#SmallBizChat Live
National Small Business Week: Q&A

Good Day Philadelphia
Expert Shares Tips on How to Become Your Own Boss

Testimonials

Become Your Own Boss is a must read if you’re thinking of launching a business of your own.
Jean Chatzky, Bestselling Author of Money 911 and Financial Editor of NBC’s Today Show
Great step-by-step advice for anyone looking to start their own business.
Andrew C. Taylor, Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Melinda Emerson has written a remarkable book. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to make the transition from working girl to successfully working it, as an entrepreneur.
Cynthia McClain-Hill, Past President, National Association of Women Business Owners
The perfect companion for those planning to go out on their own. Melinda delivers firsthand practical advice on how to be the successful entrepreneur. Read it if you want to get it right the first time.
Kenneth L. Shropshire, Professor at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
If you are looking for a versatile speaker who can talk about how to grow small businesses or get started with social media, look no further.
Heather Van Sickle Executive Director, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Her wit and depth of subject knowledge were entertaining and empowering. Melinda is definitely on our short list of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders we look to invite back in the near future.
Tennille M. Robinson Senior content & Event producer for Inc. magazine
Melinda Emerson, “SmallBizLady,” is an engaging and witty speaker and a great addition to any conference. Her terrific presentation and compelling delivery give people the information they need and want to become their own bosses and grow success… Read more
Laurie Dalton White Conference Director, Pennsylvania Conference for Women
Melinda Emerson has been a fantastic small business and social media resource for the Pitney Bowes team. Not only is she personable and easy to work with, but she also has an innate understanding of the small business audience. My marketing programs … Read more
Justin Amendola, Former VP, Global SMB Digital Strategy, Pitney Bowes

Latest #SmallBizChat

The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to Reinvent a Legacy Business with Rich Trotter

In this episode, Melinda Emerson welcomes Rich Trotter, a fourth-generation entrepreneur, to discuss his journey in the food industry. Rich shares insights into the challenges and innovations he faced, particularly the transition to natural ingredients. The conversation delves into how small businesses can overcome the impact of the pandemic and adapt to new market demands. […]

Fix Your Business Q&A Video

Recent Posts

  • The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to Reinvent a Legacy Business with Rich Trotter
  • May 2025 #SmallBizChat: How to Position Your Brand with Multicultural Markets
  • How to Tighten Your Sales Infrastructure (Before Your Bank Account Screams for Help)
  • The SmallBizChat Podcast: How Giving a TEDx Talk Can Benefit Your Business with Dr. Dan Young
  • 10 Critical AI Automated Workflows to Elevate Your Small Business

#SmallBizChat

  • SmallBizChat Archive
  • @SmallBizLady

Business Advice

  • How to Start

SmallBizLady Store

Products

Free Chapter

Get In Touch

  • FAQ
  • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Contact Us
Copyright © 2025
Quintessence Entertainment, Inc
PO Box 280
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
(610) 352-0680
Privacy Policy · Refund Policy

Let’s Connect

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • tiktok
  • pinterest
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • feedburner