Mind Your Business With Sara & Helen

We have questions from Helen, Selina and Pippa about social media promotion, creating a buzz about a new business and how to avoid meltdowns when working with your partner. As ever, Sara and Helen's advice has universal relevance. If you have a question for the girls, email hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The harder it is for your customers to buy, the less they will. So, how do you make their journey as smooth as possible in order to secure sales? Sara and Helen have too many ideas to list here. Suffice to say, adopt at least a couple, and you will reap the rewards. And the best news? All of their learnings can be implemented relatively easily and at very little cost. As the girls say, this could be a huge game-changer for you and your business. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever accepted business you didn't really want, been ignored by a would-be mentor or worried about the pros and cons of making a big hire? If so, you are not alone; Sara and Helen have too! And, rest assured, they've plenty of advice on all of the above - based on personal experiences good and bad. If you'd like to tap their brains in our weekly Q&A, email hello@mybpod.com or get in touch via the channels below. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a break from the norm, Sara and Helen ponder your ultimate business no-nos, and decide whether they are worthy of being sent for all eternity to Room 101. Think corporate jargon, absentee interviewees and AI emails! Helen exposes another scammer, Sara extols the virtues of partnering with a charity, and we also hear from Ivy from Wild About Flowers in our Not On The High Street feature, Over A Brew. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you get your product in front of the right people? Sara & Helen know. Should you offer a free trial on your revolutionary software? They have thoughts! Is it a good idea to find a narrow niche, even at the expense of existing custom? Tricky, but ideas abound! Our weekly Q&A is a compendium of useful information for your business. Email your questions to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mic drop: since Helen and Matt introduced a loyalty scheme to their business, all the usual sales metrics are off the charts. She and Sara share their considerable expertise on making the most of your existing customers by incentivising them to shop with you. Get it right, and it's a proper win / win; both you and your regulars go home very happy. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start with a heart-breaking question from a tearful Jade, whose salon has been hit hard by cancellations now she's reached the VAT threshold and had to put her prices up. Sara and Helen not only provide a shoulder to cry on, but also plenty of advice on how she can get customers through the door. We also have suggestions on how to push sales when you're starting out with a new product, and how to go about filming promotional videos on yourself for social media. Email your queries to hello@mybpod.com or get in touch via the channels below. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you attack the week when you return to your desk on Monday morning? Sara & Helen reckon it's the perfect time for targeted reporting on things like sales, margin and cashflow - not only to get your affairs in order for the week ahead, but also the months and even year to come. Because, in measuring what needs to be managed over the course of the next seven days, you should be able to identify what requires your attention in the medium and long-term too. As Helen says, 'bad news delivered early enough can become good news' - and the sooner you spot a potential problem the easier it is to resolve. In our feature Over A Brew in partnership with Not On The High Street , we have advice from Stephanie from StephieAnn Design , who makes handcrafted fashion, accessories and personalised gifts. Just like us, Steph is all about finding your tribe! Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could this be our best Q&A yet? Sara certainly thinks so. The girls deal with questions about social media, networking and email marketing agencies that are relevant to all small business owners. Email you queries to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's tempting to think of your staff as family, especially if you're a small business owner. But while everyone craves a happy workplace, it's imperative to maintain professional, adult-to-adult relationships with your team if you want your business to grow. Do not treat them like kids! Will you do a job instead of an employee because it's quicker to do it yourself? Is everyone always in agreement with you or reluctant to challenge your ideas? Does the thought of giving feedback to a colleague - because they are also a friend - fill you with terror? If the answer to these questions is 'yes', it's time to reconsider your approach to management. Sara and Helen explore the pitfalls of parenting your staff, and have oodles of practical advice to help you empower them. And in Over A Brew with Not On The High Street , we receive lovely words of wisdom from illustrator, designer and Tulustra founder, Lucy. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your personal hotshot consultancy team is back to solve your problems - and provide invaluable advice for ALL business owners in the process. In our latest salon, Sarah needs help with a competitor unfairly piggybacking on her hard work, designer Louise feels threatened by AI, and Vicky wants to know how to protect her brand. As ever, Sara and Helen have the answers! Email your question to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the holiday season in full swing, expect emails by the pool, conference calls on the beach and crisis management over long, lazy lunches. Some people find it hard to switch off from work, others simply don't - or don't want to! However you navigate a well-earned break, Sara and Helen share advice on making the experience as enjoyable stress-free as possible - which in turn could have lasting benefits for you and your business. We also launch our new feature, Over A Brew, in partnership with Not On The High Street , in which founders share their words of wisdom. First up, Stephen & Katie from BrickByBrick23 . Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian wants advice on how to hire when you can't compete with the big hitters on wages, Caroline is wondering whether to invest in physical premises for her online business, and Heather is worried about President Trump's tariffs. As ever, Sara and Helen have loads of practical advice. Email your questions to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a very candid tete-a-tete, Sara and Helen explore what the goals for your business should be, how you decide upon them, and what impact they have on your life beyond work. As is evident from the discussion - which is as personal as ever - your business and your life are inextricably linked, which means breaking your back to grow isn't necessarily the right course of action. Meanwhile, Helen reveals how she's lost a member of staff as a result of the podcast, and Sara makes a clarion call to our new Prime Minister on behalf of small businesses. We also have our final instalment of Let's Be Frank, for exciting reasons which will become clear ... Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michelle has a seasonal business and needs help getting through the winter, Belle is wondering how to negotiate the minefield that is paid advertising, and Emma has the opportunity to get permanent premises for her floristry business. As ever, our entrepreneurial agony aunts Sara and Helen have plenty of useful thoughts! Email your small business dilemmas to hello@mybpod.com Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's intimidating, as a small business owner, battling sprawling, multinational corporations. But don't forget why people want to bring their custom to you, and the competitive advantage that gives you over the so-called big hitters. That's the 'Special Sauce', as Helen describes it. Celebrity service, attention to detail, trust, that personal touch - all very achievable goals, especially given the (relatively cheap) technology at hand. Here, Sara and Helen share ways in which you can make your little company appear huge - ramping up profits without sacrificing your core values. We also have a welcome return from their dad, Frank, in our regular feature ... Let's Be Frank! Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lovely questions from Karen, Tom and a mystery guest this week, as our entrepreneurial agony aunts assist with the best strategy when it comes to pricing deliveries, dealing with a sudden, unexpected decline in sales and the fear of entering into the world social media. Email info@mypod.com with your queries, or via the channels below. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BHAGs (that's Big Hairy Audacious Goals), work-life balance and staff knocking off early to watch the footy are the amuses bouches for our big chat about why developing your own skills our business is fundamental to its growth. Sara has a great analogy to reinforce this thesis - as the girls discuss self-confidence, developing a positive mindset and how to identify areas of weakness you might need to focus on improving. Sara's Simon, meanwhile, provides our weekly words of wisdom - but will they be numbers related, we wonder? Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen is worried about spamming her customers, Jeff is nervous about diversifying his cricket business, and we have an anonymous mum who wants to start her own business but is fearful of taking the plunge. As every, Sara & Helen are here to help. Email your questions to hello@mybpod.com. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both Sara and Helen are experts in creating a brand using the various tools at their disposal, and fully appreciate the value (considered) self-promotion can add to the growth of your business. Here, they share tips, unfortunate mistakes and hard-fought wins so that you can build a profile that'll punch hard with your customers. in keeping with the honesty the podcast is known for, Helen is currently experiencing a crisis of confidence in this department - it's hard putting yourself out there all the time - so Sara provides reassurance that it's worthwhile persevering. Not least because Helen might very well be the trailblazer when it comes to creating a brand! We also have a newsflash: Sara has been diagnosed with ADHD, and shares her thoughts on how it's affected and defined her life as an entrepreneur. Useful Links Our Website Facebook Community Instagram Email: hello@mybpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.