Show Notes
In this week’s episode we’re diving deep into our businesses blind spots and sharing with y’all what we learned. How we overcame the blind spots and how we plan to attack the new ones (there are always new blindspots)
What you’ll learn:
- What types of systems you should have in place as a fail safe to follow trends
- Why hiring a business coach can be the highest ROI in your business and how you should find one.
- How to Reduce the amount of inputs in your business.
If you’re a local business owner who wants to generate more qualified appointments online we created a free training to show you our proven three step process. Watch the training
Connect with us
Transcript
Aaron [00:00:00] Hey ya'll, welcome to another episode of The Marketing Natives, this is a really fun episode we're going to be talking about blindspots. Christian jumps in and gives us a bonus one. I'm not going to tell you what the bonus one is, but we're going to be talking about how to set up systems and measuring your KPIs, hiring a business coach and why is the most valuable asset in your business to help you figure out where your blindspots are? And number three, how to reduce the amount of inputs in your business so that you can focus on the business and continue to grow it and eliminate blindspots. So it can be a super helpful episode for you. If you're a service based business, a local business owner, you're gonna find a ton of valuable information in this. So make sure you check it out. Take a listen.
Narrator [00:00:40] This is the Marketing Natives providing actual ways to grow, improve and succeed in your business.
Narrator [00:00:48] And now your host, Christian and Aaron.
Christian [00:00:56] All right. So coming on number one is to introduce ways to measure information or data. Yeah, and then follow trends, just make sure to have some sort of spreadsheet dashboard. A way that you can actually quantify and qualify the data that you have to see what's working and what's not working. I think I guess one of the examples that we were talking about was, for example, like tracking time for projects or how long it's taken us to, I don't know, go through like onboarding for a client or off boarding or doing the actual bulk of the work.
Christian [00:01:44] And then looking at the data, looking at you know, the size of their business and looking at different things like that definitely helps you find those blind spots. And I think it's more than just you know, that was just an example.
Christian [00:01:57] But this would be more of like trying to figure out your KPIs right? And what is actually, what makes your company run? Figuring out those numbers and then finding a way to track those numbers and looked at them and figure out those trends. And, you know, is it that, do you have seasons right within your business? Are you busy, uncertain times of the year more than others? All that kind of data will definitely help you run your business a lot smoother as very beneficial to track it from the get go. I think we've kind of lacked in to tracking data like that for a business for a long time. Now we're kind of doing baby steps to getting there and actually looking at data for our business and looking at those trends and saying, like, OK, what's working? What's not working here?
Aaron [00:02:50] Yeah.
Christian [00:02:50] Based on those numbers.
Aaron [00:02:52] That's also tracking.
Aaron [00:02:55] So I think like an example of this blindspot could be not only the time of the project, but how long does it take you to get that person? For example, we offer a brand revolution. We've spent other than like some accidental SEO things that we rank for very little time on it. And it's also a very high, like, quick turnaround for us and it's very profitable. And we've done nothing on. So, like the net positive, it is extremely high. And we have done anything. So it's like, oh, well, that's a trend that maybe we should have gone on or we should do a little bit more or versus like a website or, you know, like larger websites. Like is the opportunity of this, let's say ten thousand dollar website better than this three thousand dollar website. Well, dollars-wise, it is, but if a ten thousand dollar website takes us three times as long, then we could have knocked out four or five smaller websites. So it's like and it would've been less headache. So it's like there's a lot of things to weigh there, like the blindspots, just chasing money or we just doing short term moves, I guess. So that could be something. And the data won't lie to you then. It's like, hey! look, this one took three months and it was three times bigger of a project. However, this project took one month and it was actually ten times more profitable. So we should have been going after more of these projects. And you just don't know, because if you don't look at that data, you have no idea. You don't follow those transfers. Look, we should never do a website that's over six thousand dollars, because if we do, this is our timeline. It's just like it's not worth it.
Aaron [00:04:28] Number two.
Aaron [00:04:30] It is very obvious, and it's probably the easiest I wouldn't say cop out, because I think you should. So I put number one is like that, measure the data and information. I think that should be number one in the business. But the easiest thing to do, somewhat vulnerable, I guess, and if money is no option or whatever, I would say you'd be hiring a business coach because they're gonna be if they're good. Which there's some things you should figure out. It's like one, if they've either worked in your industry or have been doing this for a while so that they can tell you about things that have going on or like, hey, look, the reason you're not growing is because of this or the reason you're growing so well is this and you should watch out for these problems, like trying to tell you what's going around the corner and they can help a different blindspots in the business, especially if you're new. But even more so, like guys, you're growing and you're like, I don't know. Like, let's just say losing a client or like the trends don't make as much sense to you because you're like, hey, look, we're still got enough money coming in. But then you don't pay attention to it as much because it's like there's not really a problem and business coach can help you.
Aaron [00:05:36] Like, hey, look, this is actually going to be an issue in six months. Like, you need to pay attention to it now.
Aaron [00:05:42] I mean, that's so I think it's the easiest thing to do would be to just hire somebody who can help you and kind of look at it and tell you, Hey look! there's a problem.
Christian [00:05:49] We've been using coaches for I think since the beginning, technically, without a lot of different coaches, mentors. But from the beginning, we've had some sort of person who we've gone to. Yeah, to kind of keep growing our business and like, what do we need to do?
Christian [00:06:10] But I think for the longest time, what I really like about our current coach is that my idea of a coach was someone who was going to come in and tell us, you don't need to use this software, you need to use this today and like how you do this.
Christian [00:06:26] You need to do it this way and blah blah blah.
Christian [00:06:29] But like our current coach is more of a broader, more holistic approach, I guess, to the business.
Christian [00:06:37] Like, look, you can use click up, you can use slack, can do all that stuff.
Christian [00:06:43] It's more of the process of or the maturity of a business. That's the kind of like the biggest aha! for me, from them was like, you guys are in this state phase two or whatever of growing the business where you are right now, you're creating a lot of processes and systems and things.
Christian [00:07:04] So they're not necessarily telling us how to do those processes and systems.
Christian [00:07:06] They're just telling us like, yeah, you need to get this done in order to move to that next step, right? where the business is not dependent on us. That to me was like a big like, OK. That's pretty cool. I'm more of a 10,000 foot view of the business where a lot of times where business owners are working in the business so much that you kind of lose to that view. And I think that's what business coaches are there for.
Christian [00:07:34] It's a kind of, get you engaged back in that 10,000 foot view.
Aaron [00:07:40] Right. Working on the business first versus in it?
Christian [00:07:43] Yeah. And even if you don't have a coach and you're still working on the business, you may not have a clear goal or maybe you have a clear goal but you don't have a clear path.
Aaron [00:07:55] Right.
Christian [00:07:55] And I think that's what the coaches are there for is to kind of either together, okay, let's build as a goal like what it was that you want to do. And if you do have that goal, then, okay, let's build a path, stairway, whatever, maybe to get you to that goal.
Aaron [00:08:10] I think it's also the ability to just ask the questions, too. So, like, you may just intuitively know that, hey! this is what I'm doing because I'm running the business and I'm just in it everyday. So this is why we're doing it. But you've never really, like, step back and ask the questions about why. Why do I keep doing this? Like, if you're stuck in it I feel like it's the hamster wheel of like, okay, we need to do this because I need to make the money to pay rent vs. like, okay, what happens after we all the needs are met. And focusing on that is a lot like they allow you to ask the questions to you so that you can think about next steps. So it's not just the. OK, let's get through today and then we'll do tomorrow and I'll think about tomorrow after that, you know, after I finish everything for today. So allows you to think big picture and longer term, like you said, and help you create that path. But it's hard to think about that for yourself because it's a one lane street, I guess.
Christian [00:09:05] And I think another big thing with the coaches is majority of problems within the business or outside of the business has to do with communication.
Aaron [00:09:14] Yeah.
Christian [00:09:14] The way they communicate with the clients, the way we communicate with your employees the way the upper management communicate with each other. Most problems in the business start there.
Aaron [00:09:26] Yeah.
Christian [00:09:26] And I think that's something that they've helped us one: realize.
Christian [00:09:30] And then two, like, OK, what are some things that we can do to start working on communication with everyone?
Aaron [00:09:36] Again and I think that was a blindspot.
Christian [00:09:37] Yeah, absolutely.
Aaron [00:09:38] Yeah. And if it wasn't a blindspot, it was one, that was like, I want to say it was like a "Oh, that's something we need to fix but it's not really like a priority" versus now, it's like up close and personal saying, "hey! this is a big thing". You have a fork in the road. You need to fix this, because if you don't, you'll never get to that level three. Even if you're able to work on the business because they're going to run into these problems.
Aaron [00:10:03] So it's like, just hiring that coach. Like I said. Listen to this podcast. We get nothing else out of it. Just hire the coach, you know, at least point in the right direction to help you through the rest of the stuff.
Christian [00:10:11] Yeah.
Aaron [00:10:19] Hey local business owners, if you're ready to grow your business online without having to work more in your business. And you can spend more time on it. We created a free training on how to attract, qualify and convert more leads online. It's thirty eight minutes. It's gonna take a little bit of your time, but it's going to have a huge benefit. It's completely free. Make sure you click below on the description, whether you're on Facebook, whether on YouTube, whether you're on the podcast, everything's there that you need. Go grab the training now.
Aaron [00:10:50] All right. Number three, last one we have here is to reduce the amount of inputs in your business.
Aaron [00:10:55] So what I mean by that is if you have twenty different products and then you have three different people in management who also make decisions, and then you also have coaches and then you're also looking at data and then you have, I would say, 20 or 30 different things that you're looking at for input in your business, your accountants. It's like, OK, how can we dissect all of this information? And it's really, really, really hard to basically be like, I mean, it's like a waterfall. You're trying to or a firehose. You're trying to take on everything versus like being super focused and saying, hey look, these are the main metrics I'm looking at in the business. Hopefully you've done it and looked at number one, which is create those systems or KPIs key performance indicators of what you need to do to follow trends. But, if you have all those KPIs and then you just keep adding new ones like her, it's the amount of websites we got in August or the amount of new clients that we got in December, like, OK, now we have to compare that to next year versus just following simple KPIs. I think that you get caught up into the mundane task versus focusing on efficiency by just lowering the amount of inputs you have.
Christian [00:12:07] I think this remind me of.
Christian [00:12:12] Which I think you might be like a number four, like stop chasing the shiney objects, you know?
Aaron [00:12:16] Oh yeah that's so hard for me. I love shiney objects.
Christian [00:12:20] But it kind of remind with that. And I was like, OK, is chasing a shiney object, a blindspot?
Christian [00:12:27] And I mean, I think it is. It's like a reverse blindspot right? Like you see the shiney object in front of you, and it's not a blind spot directly, but you're blinding to everything else that's going on. Right? Or maybe something that you already started methods or a service or a product that you already have, you know, doubling down 'cause this is working already. You're like, no, like A.I. is the next thing. Like, that's what we're going to do. OK. Well, you have, like, all these things that are working right now that if you just concentrate your time and effort into it. So I think it's kind of like a reverse blindspot.
Christian [00:13:03] Yeah, that's what it would remind me of. Like chasing shiney objects would lead you to just never be fully successful, that one thing or that one-ish or whatever.
Aaron [00:13:14] Right! and you have to learn something new. I think there has to be, like for us, anyway and for probably people listening is having some kind of checks and balances of like, OK. As we grow, it's harder for us to add new software. Before it's like me, you and like maybe one other person. So oh, we add new software? No problem. We can all implement it easily, but now we make a change, it's like, this impacts like 10x because of so many things.
Aaron [00:13:37] So there's got to be checks and balances of like, alright, if we're gonna do this, it has to pass this test and then this test and then this test and then we will implement something.
Aaron [00:13:48] And here's how we're gonna roll it out and why we're gonna roll it out. Not just, hey! those looks cool. We got a great deal on it. And let's just change everything we've done because sometimes, like to your point, is like chasing that shiney object. It may actually be better. We just may not be ready for it either.
Christian [00:14:08] Yeah.
Aaron [00:14:08] So that was a good, if you listen to once, episode 173. You know, you got a bonus. This one also had a bonus. But, want to recap these for you guys. We have four. We had three. Plus a bonus is to number one, introduced systems and measure data inside of your company. Number two is to hire a business coach. Hands down the best piece of advice we can give you. This will help you ten fold. And no matter what you pay them, it will pay dividends. So make sure you hire a business coach. Number three, reduce the amount of inputs in your business. So, that could be people, that could be KPI. It could be anything that you're looking at to easily digest your business. You don't want to spend so much time analyzing the data that you never actually understand the data or move forward. And then the last one, the bonus is that don't chase the shiney object syndrome because that can create a blindspot inadvertently. So be thinking about those things as you're growing your business. And if you found one, which is very helpful. Make sure you shoot us a message over in Instagram and let us know that it was helpful for you @BitBranding. Alright guys, thank you so much for listening to another episode of the Marketing Natives. We really appreciate you listening. And we know that your time is super valuable. So whether you're listening in your car, you're out on a run or just chillin in your office wherever you may be listening to this episode, we appreciate it. If you've been listening for a while, please make sure to leave us an honest rating review on iTunes, this or Apple podcast rather they change their name. This helps us to get in front of more people and also helps us to reach more people and find out more about the podcast that we're creating. And if we should create different ones or better ones, how we can continue to grow. And this is your first time and you've listened this all the way through and you listened to it right now. Please make sure that you hit the subscribe button, whether it's on a podcast app or on YouTube. Make sure you subscribe so that you don't miss out on any of our content. We create weekly videos to help local businesses generate more leads and sales online for the business. Alright guys, thank you so much. We'll talk to you next week.
Narrator [00:16:12] The Marketing Native's podcast is a production of BitBranding.
