The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Brandi L. Holder, Founder of BH & Co. discuss going from loss and doubt to a mission of empowering 100 women’s legacies.

Brandi Holder is a Brand Voice nerd and Empowerment Coach who loves working with ambitious people ready to take action, aim higher, and achieve runaway success. She is a thoughtful problem solver and creative force with a 20-year career spanning economic development, housing, public safety, technology, trades, and entrepreneurship. Brandi specializes in helping service-based solopreneurs and professionals in the public sphere amplify their talents and values to create extraordinary lives and legacies.

Acquiring the self-assurance needed to embark on an entrepreneurial journey or to proceed with the transitional phases of your business, such as expansion and growth, can indeed feel like a daunting task. In our conversation with Brandi, we delve into strategies for conquering self-doubt and building the confidence necessary to achieve your aspirations.

Listen as we discuss:

1. What caused your lack of confidence, and how did you rebuild your self-belief?

2. What tips do you have for others lacking confidence?

3. Why is confidence so important in building a business and accomplishing your dreams?

4. Why 100 women?

5. How do you define a legacy? What are examples of ways people build legacies, or why they should approach their work and career like this?

6. How can we identify our passions and turn them into a fulfilling legacy even later in life?

We close by asking Brandi if our listeners could have one takeaway from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice she wished someone had given her when starting her business. 

Learn more about BH & Co.:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Tony K. Silver, Multi Award Winning LinkedIn Profiler discuss how to use LinkedIn as an effective tool to achieve your desired outcome and return on investment.

Tony K. Silver is a multi-award-winning LinkedIn expert, who has been helping people on the platform since 2009. In 2018 he set up his own company and became the Creator of the LinkedIn Profile Audit (LIPA) that generates qualified targeted leads, builds new relationships, and generates more sales. He is also the author of two LinkedIn books. Tony is the founder of Solid Silver Solutions, which in 2021 was rebranded to Tony K Silver. He is a LinkedIn profile expert and the person who heads the delivery of key services. He has become known as the LinkedIn profiler, currently ranked in the top five by the platform in its search criteria.

We explore leveraging LinkedIn as a potent tool for achieving desired outcomes and ROI, covering key topics like optimizing profile engagement, the benefits of a company page, optimal posting frequency, effective search strategies in the standard version, utilizing impactful metrics, and enhancing engagement strategies.

Listen as we discuss:

• How important is the top of my profile for engagement?
• Should I have a company page?
• How often should I post?
• Can I do an effective search in the standard version of LinkedIn?
• What are the best metrics to use?
• How do I get more engagement?

We close by asking Tony if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice he wished someone had given him when starting her business.   

Learn more about Tony K. Silver:

Show Notes

In this captivating podcast episode, we delve into the world of storytelling and its profound effect on your business's success. Join us as we explore the art of crafting compelling narratives that can make all the difference in gaining more clients.

Our host, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and guest, Park Howell, founder of The Business of Story, share invaluable insights on how to quickly clarify your brand's story and harness the power of storytelling to amplify your impact.

Tune in to discover practical tips and strategies that will elevate your storytelling prowess, empowering you to leave a lasting impression on your audience. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, this episode will equip you with the tools you need to excel through the stories you tell and achieve remarkable results for your business. Don't miss out on this enriching discussion that's sure to take your storytelling game to the next level!

Park is a 35+ year veteran of the brand marketing game, ran his own agency, Park&Co, for 20 years, and began teaching leadership storytelling 15 years ago. He spent five years as an adjunct storytelling professor for Arizona State University’s Executive Master for Sustainability Leadership program. He now consults, teaches, coaches and speaks internationally helping leaders like you excel through the stories you tell. His popular Business of Story podcast, which Feedspot named the #1 business storytelling podcast for 2022, is ranked among the top 10% of downloaded podcasts in the world.

Discover how the "And, But, Therefore" (ABT) framework, which comprises elements of agreement, contradiction, and consequence, can be effectively integrated into both your professional and personal endeavors to attract a wider clientele base.

Listen as we discuss:

• What is the ABT framework and how and why does it work?
• How are sales and marketing professionals using the ABT in their brand communications?
• Is the ABT brand new or has it been around for a while and if so where?
• It seems so simple – it's just three words – does it really work?
• What's the Return on Investment (ROI) of the ABT?
• Where can I learn how to craft and apply ABTs to dramatically grow my revenue?

We close by asking Park if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice he wished someone had given him when starting his business.  

Learn more about The Business of Story:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Laura Templeton, founder of 30 Second Success, embark on an engaging journey into the realm of effective communication, where we delve into the significance of clarity and brevity when sparking conversations within your business. Discover the secrets to crafting a compelling 30-second message tailored to ignite dialogue, and explore strategies to extend the conversation and foster deeper engagement after delivering your concise pitch.  

Laura Templeton is a renowned entrepreneur and the driving force behind 30 Second Success. With a diverse background as a connector, speaker, author, and client attraction specialist, Laura has honed her skills over the years to become an expert in the art of effective communication. Her passion lies in helping individuals and businesses create clear and confident messages that resonate with their ideal clients. With over 15 years of experience in sales training, personal development, coaching, and networking, Laura has a deep understanding of the power of building relationships through communication. This insight led her to establish 30 Second Success, a platform that empowers individuals to create compelling messages that connect with their target audience. Through her programs and direct coaching, Laura guides her clients in "Ditching the Pitch" and embracing authentic connections. By understanding the unique needs and aspirations of her clients, she helps them craft powerful branded messages that drive tangible results.
Join us on this podcast as we delve into the world of effective communication and learn valuable insights from Laura Templeton and her transformative work with 30 Second Success.

Listen as we discuss:

• The importance of being clear and concise with your 30-second message when sparking conversations within your business.
• How to effectively highlight the benefits of your business in your 30-second message.
• Examples of attention-grabbing hooks to use to start your 30-second message.
• How to customize your 30-second message for different audiences within your business.
• Effective strategies for practicing and refining the delivery of your 30-second message.
• What to do after delivering your 30-second message to initiate further conversation and engagement.

 We close by asking Laura if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice she wished someone had given her when starting her business. 

Learn more about 30 Second Success:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Julie Jones, owner of The Adventures of Julie Jones discuss discovering your passion and recognizing the perfect moments to seize life’s opportunities.

As a former police officer and SWAT member, Julie knows that there is no promise of tomorrow, and coaches individuals to face the fear and take massive inspired action. Julie Jones is an Award-Winning Speaker, an International Bestselling Author of six books, and a Productivity & Breakthrough Coach, who is certified as a facilitator in the Working Genius. Julie hosts her own podcast, Get S#*t Done, and produces a TV show, Stop Waiting Start Living, on the Zondra Network. Julie is passionate about supporting overworked and overwhelmed individuals in getting off the hamster wheel of do, do, do. Live a life without regret, and have the courage to be who you are meant to be.

Embrace your fears and fully embrace the present; it’s a phrase we often come across, but putting it into practice can be challenging. So how exactly can we achieve that? Discover the art of living in the moment, infused with enjoyment, and unlock the potential to elevate your life to new heights.

Listen as we discuss:

• Where has saying YES in your life and business been the biggest benefit?
• How do you know whether to say yes or no?
• Why are you so passionate about speaking in this arena?
• Has there been a time when saying YES has not been beneficial?
• Is there such a thing as work/life balance?

We close by asking Julie if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice she wished someone had given her when starting her business.  

 Learn more about The Adventures of Jullie Jones:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and  Dale L. Shafer II, Founder, and Financial Advisor of Life Moves Wealth Management discuss strategies to align your finances for making informed financial decisions. Dale L Shafer II, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®), Accredited Portfolio Management AdvisorTM (APMA®), and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®). Out of the office, he is most likely found exploring outdoors and hiking with his wife or on his bike. He also rocks out behind a drum kit or a guitar and enjoys reading books on finance and leadership and collecting deadpan “dad jokes” to try out on our kids.

Having a clear understanding of your goals, values, and statement of financial purpose, and keeping them in alignment is key to achieving financial success.

Listen as we discuss actionable steps used for getting alignment with your financial purpose:

• Write out your top three goals for the next 12-24 months.
• Set the goals aside. Now identify 10 values that are most important to you, then narrow those down to five and rank them in order of importance.
• Your values are the beacon for your financial decisions and can be put together to create your Statement of Financial Purpose.
• With your values in mind, write your Statement of Financial Purpose (what’s most important and why) – be concise and precise.
• Test it: make sure that your top three goals are aligned with your values and statement of financial purpose.

 We close by asking Dale if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice he wished someone had given him when starting his business.  

Learn more about Life Moves Wealth Management:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Maddison McKinley, President, and Chief Marketing Officer of Insightimize, discuss the importance of Conversion Rate Optimization in driving your customers to take action.

Maddison McKinley is a marketing consultant that has worked with a wide range of clients, from small businesses to large corporations that are looking for someone who can help them grow their business. With over 10,000 hours of marketing experience—including SEO, data analytics and ROI, content marketing, conversion rate optimization, lead generation, big-picture strategy, and more. Maddison has implemented numerous effective marketing campaigns for her clients while meeting their unique needs.

Conversion Rate Optimization is the practice of updating your website for improved customer performance that will inspire your customers to take action to increase success with your services or products.

Listen as we discuss:

• Conversion Rate Optimization and why it matters.
• Easy ways to get started with Conversation Rate Optimization.
• The Formula for Conversation Rate Optimization.
• The cost of Conversation Rate Optimization services.

We close by asking Maddison if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice she wished someone had given her when starting her business.  

Learn more about Insightimize:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Eric Bruce, Search Engine and Marketing Tech Genius, Marketing Success Pros discuss how to set up your Google Business Profile to improve your ranking on Google searches.

Eric is the co-founder of Marketing Success Pros. He is the data and keywords guy who loves analytics, data crunching, and all things tech-driven. Eric sees the big picture and can put together all the areas of search engine optimization, using Google and its plethora of tools,  that will help you attract your ideal client. Previously, he worked for several companies as a data analyst and information technologist, taking the raw data and creating marketing that works. Quiet and pensive, his thoughts tend to be profound and insightful. Eric is a musician. He plays bass guitar and ukulele and can be found at Open Mic nights around the Valley. A sailor, Eric is currently fixing a small sailboat and loves teaching his fiancé how to sail. He is also a voracious reader and can be found reading several books at once, especially those on his favorite subject, history.

Setting up your Google Business Profile is one of the most simple and most effective ways of setting your business up to be found online through Google Maps and local search results.

Listen as we discuss:

• The reason why your business isn’t showing up on page one of Google searches.
• Immediate measures that you can take to improve your ranking in Google searches.
• How to find out if your profile is working properly.
• How to get rid of negative Google reviews.
• The pros and cons of paying for Google Ad Words (Google Ads).
• The cons of not having an updated website and how it affects your business on Google.

We close by asking Eric if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice he wished someone had given him when starting his business.  

Learn more about Marketing Success Pros:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Catherine Napoli, owner of Marketing Success Pros, discuss using the Find My Customer Avatar Cheat Sheet to help identify your ideal customer.

Catherine Napoli is a Brain Change Facilitator. She spent many years in the marketing and business coaching field and works with her clients to facilitate real and lasting change for their businesses. Catherine enjoys crafting solutions that make sense to each client’s unique situation.

One of the most important uses of a customer avatar is in marketing to your target audience. It should help you narrow your marketing practices, improve your targeting, and enable you to attract more qualified leads.

Listen as we discuss:

• What is an avatar and why do you need one for your business?
• What is an avatar cheat sheet?
• Your product or service is perfect for everyone, so why should you limit your audience?
• Should you cast a big net or a small one to attract clients?
• Is it possible to have more than one avatar?
• You are new. You don't have an ideal client yet. How do you create an avatar?
• Is there a customer avatar template?

We close by asking Catherine if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice she wished someone had given her when starting her business.  

Learn more about Marketing Success Pros:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Maddison McKinley, President, and Chief Marketing Officer of Insightimize, discuss the methodology behind search engine optimization (SEO).

Maddison McKinley is a marketing consultant that has worked with a wide range of clients, from small businesses to large corporations that are looking for someone who can help them grow their business. With over 10,000 hours of marketing experience—including SEO, data analytics and ROI, content marketing, conversion rate optimization, lead generation, big-picture strategy, and more— Maddison has implemented numerous effective marketing campaigns for her clients while meeting their unique needs.

Search Engine Optimization plays an important role in making your website more visible to your target audience. In addition,  great SEO can give you a competitive advantage, boost your credibility, help you to rank better in local searches, and convert prospects into customers.

Listen as we discuss:

·       What is SEO and why does it matter?

·       Easy ways to get started with SEO.

·       The main search engine to optimize for.

·       The algorithm behind Google and how to make it work for your business.

·       The cost of SEO services.

We close by asking Maddison, if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice she wished someone had given her when starting her business.  

Learn more about Insightimize:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Tyler Lemmond of Creative Lab Designs, discuss the social media platforms best suited for your business, how to decipher the social media algorithm, the science behind great content, and the art of storytelling.

Tyler Lemmond is a multi-talented individual with a passion for music, education, and social media management. With a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Sam Houston State University, Tyler initially pursued a career in teaching at the high school level. However, he later decided to transition to a career in social media management and co-founded Creative Lab Designs, a design and social media agency.
As a social media manager, Tyler has established himself as an expert in the field, specializing in people, relationships, and data analytics. He is skilled at analyzing and interpreting data to develop effective social media strategies that engage audiences and drive results. Tyler's expertise in social media has enabled him to help businesses of all sizes to grow their online presence and increase brand awareness. Tyler's passion for music remains a significant part of his life, and he continues to stay involved in the local music community. His experience as a music educator has taught him the value of discipline, hard work, and creativity, which he applies to his work as a social media manager. In summary, Tyler Lemmond is a former high school teacher turned social media manager, co-founder of Creative Lab Designs, and a music enthusiast. With his passion for social media, data analytics, and people, he has made a name for himself in the industry, helping businesses to grow and succeed online.

Social media is hard work and takes time. With a proper understanding of how the various platforms benefit your business and knowing the art of storytelling, you can learn to write captivating content to improve your business visibility.   

Listen as we discuss:

·       The best social media platforms for your specific type of business.

·       The science behind great content and the art of storytelling.

·       Key points to look for when hiring someone to create your social media.

·       How to decipher the social media algorithm.

·       The science behind niching down.

We close by asking Tyler if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice he wished someone had given him when starting his business.  

Learn more about Creative Lab Designs:

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Deb Boulanger, Business Growth Strategist & Founder of The Launch Lab discuss solopreneurship and the framework for pricing your services to make your revenue growth more predictable.

Deb Boulanger is a Business Growth Strategist & Founder of The Launch Lab. As a business growth expert, she helps 6-figure coaches & consultants grow and scale their businesses to make meeting their revenue and lifestyle goals inevitable. Deb has created a predictable business development process based on her decades of sales, marketing, and product development experience. Over the last 20 years, Deb has launched dozens of services that have generated hundreds of millions in revenue for her clients and she launched and grew a single division from 0 to $32 million in 30 months. Deb applies the same principles multi-billion dollar corporations use to research and refine their processes to help coaches and consultants monetize their hard-won expertise. She is on a mission to close the revenue gap for women entrepreneurs and help you make your vision a reality.

Learn the Return on Advantage framework and how to add more revenue to your business. We discuss the strategy behind pricing your services, how to use the Pricing Calculator,  how to tell if you’re priced “appropriately” for your market, and how to do so effectively without client pushback.

Listen as we discuss:

·      The most common mistakes that women entrepreneurs make.

·      How to determine if you are priced"appropriately" for your market.

·      The Return on Advantage (ROA) framework and why it is a more effective measurement of impact than Return on Investment (ROI).

·      How women in the services sector can add more revenue as solo practitioners and the only ones delivering services.

·      Pricing success stories.

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist of Virtual Ingenuity, LLC, and Kristy Siefkin, Principal,  Kristy Siefkin Communications discuss the art of public speaking to increase your value. Kristy Siefkin spent nearly two decades in front of a news camera as an Emmy-recognized reporter and anchor, and corporate spokesperson. She broadcasted on local and national networks, including CBS, Fox, NBC, Animal Planet and Discovery. Her passion for teaching others inspired her to create Kristy Siefkin Communications. Companies like HP, CBRE, Thermo Fisher, Goodwill, and Charles Schwab have entrusted Kristy to train their talent to communicate like pros every time they speak - in the boardroom, in front of a news camera and podcast microphone, and on stage. When Kristy’s not busy coaching and training, or emceeing conferences and fundraising events, she loves cheering on her Duke Blue Devils and taking road trips with her feisty Norwich Terrier, “Poppy Monsoon.”  

 Listen as we discuss building a brand through public speaking and storytelling. In addition, we talk about key points to being a successful speaker:

• Kristy Siefkin Communications isn’t simply teaching people to “give a speech.”  It’s much deeper than that. What do you train leaders and teams to do?
• How learning to speak well can strengthen one's career and brand.
• The importance of learning to speak on video or camera.
• The most important mistakes that speakers make when they talk about themselves, their company, or their product, and how to avoid those mistakes.
• Easy ways to get started with public speaking, especially with someone reluctant or fearful of getting in front of an audience.
• Advice for those who have a great fear of public speaking.

We close by asking Kristy if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice she wished someone had given her when starting her business.   

Learn more about Kristy Siefkin Communications:

Building a creditworthy business and obtaining the funding you need without having to put your personal credit or personal assets at risk is key. Learn more about business credit and how it impacts start-up capital, credit score, and an SBA loan.

Show Notes

In this episode of The Virtual Ingenuity Business Podcast, Claudine Land, Business Strategist with Virtual Ingenuity, LLC discuss how credit plays a role in business, with Darryl Johnson, President of Business Credit Works. Utilizing his experience in lending and finance, Darryl started Business Credit Works by using a customized approach as he believes that every business is unique with different needs, funding goals, and credit demands. His mission is to help his clients build a creditworthy business and obtain the funding needed without having to put their personal credit or personal assets at risk.

Listen as we discuss:

• What is Business Credit?

• Why would a business owner need it?

• If a business owner has a new business, is help available with start-up capital for that business?

• Can a business owner get business credit with a bad credit score? What is considered a bad credit score?

• Can a business owner use Business credit to get an SBA loan? We close by asking Darryl if our listeners could have one take-a-away from what we talked about today, what is that one takeaway, and what is the one piece of advice he wished someone had given him when starting his business.

Learn more about Business Credit Works:

• Website: https://www.businesscreditworks.com/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2464329113814959

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-credit-works/

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