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Talking Small Business — Business
Talking Small Business

This is Talking Small Business with Kat Schmoyer & Megan Martin. A podcast for creatives who like to keep it real about what it actually takes to grow an online business. We’re competitors turned biz besties who chat daily… and now we’re bringing you into the conversation! Every Monday, we’ll bring you candid conversations on topics specific to small business – topics like email marketing, social media, passive income, goal setting and more! We aim to provide actionable, heartfelt biz strategy, peppered with real-day-in-the-life discussions. We’re open up our biz playbook and bringing YOU into the conversation, too. You in? Good. Press play & let’s chat!

Copyright: © Copyright 2021 Kat Schmoyer & Megan Martin

Latest Episodes:

#034: Rebranding: A Candid Conversation Aug 29, 2022

We're so excited about today's episode! We are going to talk about rebranding for your business and specifically, how to know when it is time to approach a rebrand in your business. Our goal for today's episode is to help you make a decision about whether or not the investment, time and the emotional energy is worth it right now for your season of business. Kat recently rebranded, so we're going to talk about her decision, as well as some other general tips! We hope this episode encourages you through your rebranding decisions!

What we’re discussing today:

Why Kat decided to rebrand
How it felt rebranding after 8 years of business
Kat's approach to rebranding
How to choose who you work with in this process
Why being put on her designer's waitlist was a great move
How to approach your rebranding budget
Kat's feelings now that it's over
What Kat loves about her new brand!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#033: A Simple Strategy to Get More Done in Your Work Day Aug 08, 2022

We've talked a lot about quarterly and yearly planning on previous episodes, but today we're talking about how to actually get things done and chase those goals. We often put a lot of effort into creating great plans and dreaming big, but we need to learn how to turn those plans into action steps that we can get done on a daily basis! So, today we're picking Kat's brain about how to tackle the dreams and daily to-dos that need to get done to move our business forward each year. Join us for a candid conversation to learn how to get more done in your work days!

What we’re discussing today:

How Kat focuses on day-to-day tasks
Three pillars to tackle your dreams
Tips to schedule your work days, especially with kids
How to tell the difference between non-negotiable for your day and what can wait
More about marketing, maintenance and projects
Tips to feel more in control and organized
How Trello can help organize these tasks each week

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#032: BTS: The Passive Bundle Jul 25, 2022

Megan is in the hot seat today! We're talking all about the Passive Bundle that she put together this past January. She's opening up applications for contributors for the next round of the bundle and as we were discussing this together, we realized something. We've never talked about what it's like putting together a bundle like this. So today's episode is all about preparing and coordinating a bundle and how you might go about doing that for you own niche! Megan's going to be sharing her experiences and ideas, so if you've ever thought about offering a bundle, make sure to take a listen!

What we’re discussing today:

What is a bundle + why Megan wanted to host one
How it felt offering something brand new
Tips to find your bundle into what you currently offer + your brand
What it was like working with 30 contributors
How to communicate with contributors
Why they decided to do another round of the bundle
Requirements for the bundle
How Megan celebrated the success for herself + affiliates

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#031: Our Partnership: A Candid Conversation (Plus, Happy Birthday TSB!!) Jul 11, 2022

Our favorite episodes to record are the ones that you've requested, which is why we're so excited about this one! Today we’re going to talk about partnerships, and specifically approaching partnerships in small business. We're going to share what that has looked like for us, with our partnership and this podcast. Together, we're having a candid conversation about how we approach partnership: what to think about, how to plan, and so much more. We'll also be celebrating ONE YEAR of Talking Small Business. It's wild to think that we've been doing this for a year because we just love having these conversations with you! So, let's get started with today's episode!

What we’re discussing today:

Why we created this podcast + the process we encountered
How we thought through the back end of creating a podcast
What you need for a partnership
Tips for a successful partnership
How we decided our podcast would about nurturing our followers
Should your partnership become a new brand?
What we've learned after being partners for a year
How to decide how your partnership will work
Our favorite part about doing this podcast

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#030: Mid Year Review: Let's do this! Jun 20, 2022

We've talked about end of year reviews and quarterly planning but now that June is here, it's time to talk about completing a mid-year business review! Kat is literally the queen of planning, especially quarterly planning, but she's also a huge advocate of these mid-year business reviews. Today, we're going to discuss why it's important to make time for your mid-year review, what it might look like, and how to set goals for the remainder of your year. This is the perfect time to start evaluating what's working - and what isn't - so you can set yourself up for success the rest of the year!

What we’re discussing today:

The difference between mid-year reviews and end of year reviews
What is Kat's process for a mid-year review
How feelings and emotions play a role in your review
When to listen to your hunches vs. your data
What to do after your review is done
The difference between a mid-year review and quarterly planning
A plan of action for your review
Why it's important to celebrate your wins

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#029: How to Find Your Zone of Genius Jun 06, 2022

If you're a part of the creative industry, you've probably heard the term "zone of genius" - and that's exactly what we're going to be talking about today! In our industry, it's common to hear your zone of genius come up when you discuss outsourcing or offers in your business... but what does that actually mean? So today, we're having candid conversation about what your zone of genius actually means as well as how to find it - and stay within it. We'll be sharing our stories on how we found our own zones of genius and how you can do the same! Let's get started!!

What we’re discussing today:

How Megan found her zone of genius, 11 years in the making
What it means to be multi passionate while you find your zone of genius
How Imposter syndrome impacts finding your zone of genius
Kat's struggle with comparison
What looking for validation can teach you about your zone of genius
How Kat found her zone of genius through results
What pivoting looked like and how that allowed Kat to step into her zone
Signs you're not in your zone of genius

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#028: How to Practically Build a Value Ladder in Your Business May 23, 2022

Did you know value ladders are on of the most beneficial things you can build on the back end of your business? Today, we're talking about how to actually create a value ladder for your business (and a quick refresher about what one is!). In today's episode, we're diving into the how's, what's and where's of building a value ladder. Whether you're a product based business or a service based business, a value ladder will absolutely serve you well so let's get started on how to build one for your biz!

What we’re discussing today:

What is a value ladder
How to build a value ladder in a service based business
Tips to promote your value ladder
How to create your value ladder in a product based business
Consumption sequences and how they help build your ladder
Why consumption sequences are the most underutilized methods in value ladder promotion
What a nurture sequence is - and if it's helpful
Where to start building your value ladder

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#027: Prepping for Maternity Leave May 09, 2022

Since Kat is expecting her third baby, we thought today was a good chance to discuss maternity leave as a business owner! Kat is in the hot seat, sharing about how exactly she prepares her business, her team, and herself to take a leave of absence for baby #3's arrival! Whether you're planning for your own maternity leave or just an extended sabbatical from your business, today's episode will provide some tips about how to prepare for your time off. Taking time off from your business is absolutely possible with some planning ahead and forward thinking, so let's dive in!

What we’re discussing today:

When Kat began to think about what maternity leave looks like
What went into planning her maternity leave
How Kat will handle wanting to work while on leave
Why having no deadlines on maternity leave can be a great way to plan ahead
How Kat has prepared for leave
Ways to make your prep even simpler + permission to scale back while you're on leave
How to make the financial piece of a long leave a little less scary
How Kat decided on the length of her maternity leave

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#026: Facing Seasons of Burnout & Finding Joy in Your Business Again Apr 18, 2022

Today we’re getting a bit personal on the podcast and we're talking about a topic that one of our listeners actually suggested: burnout in your business. When we received this message, it was definitely a gut punch to us both because that feeling is SO real. Whether you're three years into business or 10, burnout in business is no joke. Burnout as a business owner shows up in so many different ways. So, we wanted to sit down and have a really candid conversation about what burnout can look like and how to find joy in your business again. As always, we hope that sharing our experiences helps you to know that you're not alone and you can find the passion for your business again!

What we’re discussing today:

Kat's experience with burnout from being overworked
When Megan feels burnt out in business
Insight as to why your personality may impact how you feel burnt out
How to pull yourself back from a season of burnout
What can you add into your business to bring you joy
A reminder that burnout is a season
How seasons of hustle can impact burnout
Ways Kat finds joy or rekindles the passion in her business
How Megan finds joy in her business

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#025: The Magic of a Value Ladder in Your Business Apr 04, 2022

Today, we're going to break down what a value ladder is and why it can be so magical for your business! To us, there's nothing more exciting than thinking through the strategy of value ladders and offers in our businesses. We love helping each other, our students, and our listeners to determine how to build a ladder well! A value ladder requires looking at your products and services then structuring them in a way that leads perfectly from one to the next. With that in mind, let's dive in!

What we’re discussing today:

What "value ladder" means and where it came from
How the value ladder is important for you as the business owner
Why value ladders and sales funnels go hand in hand
How this strategy matters in digital and service based businesses
A reminder that building a strategic ladder takes time
How Megan started in the middle of her value ladder
Should products overlap in your value ladder
What to consider about yourself, your products, and your biz when building your ladder
How value ladders encourage business owners to create "parking lot lists"
The process to determine where on the ladder your offerings go

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#024: The Truth About Launching: A Candid Conversation Mar 21, 2022

Today we're going to share about our experiences with launching different products, services, and offerings in our own business. There's always so many hopes and dreams wrapped up in a launch, so we hope that this conversation will help you create realistic expectations for your next business launch! We hope that your launch will be even more successful because of this - and that you'll come out on the other side in one piece! Tune into this week's episode to learn the truth about launching your next product!

What we’re discussing today:

How stressful launches can be
A chat with the launch queen, Kat, about not-so-successful launches
Reasons a launch might not go well + how to prepare for that possibility
Why you should consider a live launch
Possible launch ideas
What a life launch can feel like
Understanding why a launch flopped
How to prepare for launch week
An overview of a week long launch
Why prescheduling content for your launch is key

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#023: Course vs. Membership: which one should you choose?! Mar 07, 2022

Today, we’re talking all about what you should create as a small business owner: a course vs. a membership. As two digital product educators, this is a question that we get a lot. Our students want to know what kind of setup is best for their business, along with the types of products to create. While it's easy to look at a membership and the recurring revenue it provides, we want to break down some of the things to consider when deciding between these two digital products for your business. We'll be discussing the commitment level that both take, your experience, and our own trials (and errors!) as digital educators, too. This is going to be a cool conversation, so let's dive into course vs. membership: which would should you choose?

What we’re discussing today:

The makeup of a course
What makes a membership different from a course
When memberships and courses overlap
Who might be perfect for creating a course
When is a membership most appropriate to create
Why you should consider your brand awareness when creating a membership
How starting with a course can be beneficial

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#022: Being an Enneagram 7 in a World of 3's: A Candid Conversation Feb 22, 2022

This is a really fun episode and we're so excited to be sharing it with you! Today, we're talking about Enneagrams and business owners. So if you love the Enneagram like we do, you're going to love this week's episode! We've found that a lot of business owners are Type 3's. Now, not every business owner is, but it definitely seems like a lot of them are. However, Megan is a Type 7 (Kat's a Type 3!) and we thought it might be fun to dive into that a little bit more. So, today we're talking about how our personality types impact how we run our business (as they should!) and how you can use your Enneagram type to direct how you build your own business.

What the Enneagram test is like
What it's like to be an Enneagram 7
How being an Enneagram 7 impacts goal setting
Why structure can feel overwhelming for 7s
How not having deadlines freed Megan as a business owner
Why it's important to create a business that works for you and your strengths
How to structure your business in a way that plays to your strengths/personality type
Why you should let go of the guilt over how you run your business
How we balance each other out with our different personality types

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#021: Investing in Education in 2022 Feb 07, 2022

Today, we’re chatting about investing in education as a small business owner. We both consider ourselves educators in the industry and we love and value education. But, we're also business owners who have spent our own hard earned money on education, too. In today's episode, we're going to be sharing our experiences, what kind of education we invested in and when. Together, we want to help you make smart decisions this year on where you’re going to spend your dollars to learn and grow and try something new in your business.

Today we're talking about:

How it's easy to be overwhelmed looking at biz education
Why Megan is looking for niched education for 2022
How to decide who you're learning from - look for results!
Why finding personalized experiences
How bundles can be a low cost way to find new educators
What we're looking for in education as seasoned business owners
How lower ticket items can help you connect with the educator or coach
A reminder about when to invest in education

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#020: How to Organize & Plan Your Year (2022 style!) Dec 13, 2021

Last week, Kat walked us through how to do an End of Year review for your business so you can end 2021 on the right foot. This week, she's back in the hot seat to share about how to plan 2022 in style! It's an exciting time for goal setting and prepping and we hope this episode gives you some great insight on yearly planning for small business owners. This process can be so fun (and not as overwhelming if you think!) if you go into it with a plan.

What we’re discussing today:

What annual planning looks like for someone who prefers quarterly planning
How a bird's eye view of the year can be helpful
Why many business owners think it's a good idea to plan annually like they would quarterly
How setting specific boundaries for your planning can be a good thing and lead to less overwhelm
A look at how Kat plans this bird's eye view of the year
How detailed should you get on these calendars for annual planning
Why there might be a benefit of writing down your plans on a physical calendar
How seeing your goals can be motivating as a small business owner
Words of advice as you sit down to plan 2022

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#019: How to End Your Year Well: Doing an End of Year Review Dec 06, 2021

This time of year means that a lot of people start to think about goals for the next year, which is amazing. But before you can really begin to plan your next year's goals, you need to close out the year that you're in. We're putting our planning queen, Kat, in the hot seat today as we discuss how to end your year well and do an end of year review. To plan goals that match your long-term plan, you have to sit down and determine what worked (and what didn't) in the current year!

What we’re discussing today:

What the end of year review process is like
Inspiration for what an end of year review might actually look like
How to approach your review in regards to both finances and emotional health
A discussion about setting a solid foundation instead of a changing goal
How to get feedback from your clients and prepare them for changes in the next year
When to do your end of year review
How to set aside time for your review
A little encouragement to end the year well
Why they felt launching this physical product was a good idea for their family

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#018: How Megan Launched A Physical Product Shop: A Candid Conversation Nov 15, 2021

Last week, we talked about being a multi-passionate entrepreneur and Megan mentioned her daughters' new product shop, Reese and Renee, that she's been helping them launch. It's amazing - and just so incredible that they're doing this! But, since Megan is known for being the digital product queen, we thought it would be fun to put Megan in the hotseat (again!) to talk about launching a physical product shop!

What we’re discussing today:

Learn about Reese and Renee and their story
What the backend of launching a shop with inventory is like
A look at the highs + lows of a physical shop - low: sourcing materials
How launching a physical product to Megan's audience felt
A reminder to celebrate your milestones - big and small - as a business owner
What kind of product should you launch?
The reality of passive income
Why they felt launching this physical product was a good idea for their family

Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#017: Marketing & Messaging for the Multi Passionate Entrepreneur Nov 08, 2021

Being a multi-passionate business owner is an exciting journey. Both of us have multiple brands and businesses under us, multiple products and revenue streams - and we LOVE it. But, being a multi-passionate entrepreneur doesn't come without it's challenges. Megan is definitely our go-to marketing and messaging expert so today, we're picking her brain about marketing and messaging for the multi-passionate entrepreneur, which is one of the hardest things about what we both do. Join us!

What we’re discussing today:

How a shift towards organic marketing vs. referrals is changing how Megan approaches marketing
The struggle you can feel when you can't wrap all your messaging up in one little perfect bow together
Tips to find your storyline as a multi-passionate entrepreneur
When to consider breaking your brands into multiple accounts, websites, and stories
Why sometimes having truly separate brands isn't a bad thing
An easy way to get started as a multi-passionate entrepreneur: seasons of marketing
Learning to let go of the stress over confusing clients
Examples of priming content to help your audience understand your various offerings
How building up an audience is the best thing you can do to grow your business

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#016: How to Come Up with An Idea for A Digital Product Nov 01, 2021

Today's episode of Talking Small Business is for the business owners out there who want to make a digital product to sell - or maybe already have one out in the world. Megan has built her whole business on the idea of selling digital products, so we've put her in the hot seat yet again. We'll be picking her brain about how to build a digital product that you're passionate about, but that your customers will also want to purchase.

Where do you generate ideas for digital products?
Why looking inward should be your first step when creating a digital product
A permission slip and a reminder that you don't have to sell a product forever
The "Selling your sawdust" approach
How to let others inform you what you should create without having to ask the whole world
Why you should brain dump every single idea you have about what you could create/teach
The reality of passive income
How to know whether it's your product or idea that might need course correction
Tips to stay focused on the product you're creating in that moment
Why starting a shop right away might not be the best idea

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#015: Black Friday: Strategies for Your Sale Oct 25, 2021

If you work and operate in the world of products - physical or digital - this episode is for you because we're talking about all things related to Black Friday sales! We're putting Megan in the hot seat to share about her experiences with Black Friday sales and her strategies so that you can start to plan ahead. This is one of the biggest sale days of the year - so many people in your audience are excited to see what you're going to offer, so we wanted to encourage you to take advantage of this amazing day. Today, we wanted to dive deep into what it can truly be like to run a sale, prepared or not. And, if you're thinking about a Black Friday sale for your biz this year, we hope this episode gives you a good dose of encouragement!!

Megan's first Black Friday sale
Her strategy (or lack of one for that first sale)
What competition can really feel like on Black Friday
Our experiences as consumers on Black Friday - hint, we know what we're looking for!
Pros & Cons of a "pre" Black Friday Sale
Ways to prepare your audience for a sale
Using doorbusters in your sales
Ways to plan for Black Friday as a Type B biz owner
A permission slip to try Black Friday sales the way YOU want to try
How selling to your warm leads can be a lot easier
Setting realistic expectations for your Black Friday sale
How to structure a Black Friday sale
Words of encouragement for your sale this year

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#014: Hiring a Biz Coach: A Candid Conversation Oct 18, 2021

Today, we're talking about all things related to hiring a business coach. As two women who have worked with business coaches and who offering coaching for our own students, we wanted to have a candid conversation about hiring a biz coach. We're talking about what it can really be like working with a coach, what expectations you should or might have, and whether or not you really need to hire one. So let's dive into this conversation and see where it goes!

How to know if you need a course or a coach
Why learning a specific skill might be better from a course
Kat's approach to being a biz coach
Megan's approach to being a biz coach
Why you need to know who you're hiring
What questions we would ask before hiring a coach
Why being confident as a student is a good thing
Experiences where working with a coach DID change our businesses
Megan: Recapping when she thinks you should hire a business coach
Should you complete multiple pieces of education at once
Kat: Recapping when she thinks you should hire a biz coach

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#013: Live Launch vs. Evergreen: Which is right for you? Oct 11, 2021

If you run your business in a digital space and you're thinking about launching a new product, today's podcast episode is for you! We're diving into what it means to launch and whether or not a live launch or evergreen launch will be right for your business. Both of us take a different approach to how we launch our products and while there's no right or wrong way to do anything in business, we're sharing how we think through our launch strategies. Let's dive in, because we've got so many thoughts to share with you!

What we're discussing:

What we mean by live launch or evergreen launch
How Megan really feels about launches
Why Kat loves launches
Pros of a live launch
How the type of transformation you provide may impact your launch strategy
Why live launches may help you practice + improve your selling
When you should consider an evergreen launch instead
Why flipping a live launch to an evergreen funnel can be tricky
Factors to consider when choosing a live or evergreen launch
A discussion about the hybrid approach

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#012: Expectations on Motherhood & Business: A Candid Conversation Oct 04, 2021

Today, we wanted to talk about what it's really like running a business with babies at home. Because the fact of that matter is: business IS different when you're a mom. If you're listening and you're a mama like us, we want you to know that you are so welcome here and we're cheering you on. It isn't easy to wear all of the hats but it's always worth it. We hope this candid look into expectations on motherhood and business help you realize you're not alone... and you're doing amazing things.

Understanding Megan's family + team
Kat's family + team
How to set your expectations as a mom and business owner
A reminder that YOU decide how your business is run
How to honor the role of mom that we've been given
The battle between resources + dreams
How to deal with work when life gets messy
Why having a team has helped Kat
Why seasons of hustle matter

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#011: Breaking Down Barriers: Building a Digital Biz with Social Media Boundaries Sep 27, 2021

Building a digital business in 2021 (or in the digital age!) when you want to have boundaries around social media can be... complicated. Today, we're bringing you into our latest conversation about how exactly we can both grow our business and protect our lives outside of the apps we use every day. Building boundaries for our families and our mental health is a necessity, but it can feel really confusing when there's this expectation that as business owners, we need to be super present on social media to grow at all. Here's what we're discussing:

What boundaries on social media look like for Kat
How Kat manages a social media break on the weekends
Megan's social media boundaries
How the consistency model on Instagram actually burns a lot of us out
Why these boundaries matter to us as moms + business owners
Understanding how habits form
A reminder our actual relationships matter most
How to decide what boundaries you want to set
Let revenue lead your boundaries and goals

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#010: BTS: Beta Testing Revenue Ripple Sep 06, 2021

For this week's episode, Megan is in the hot seat because she's sharing a little behind the scenes of beta testing her new offering, Revenue Ripple. Beta testing is a great way to test your products to a smaller audience, gather feedback, and prepare to share it with the masses. But, if you don't know what you're doing, it can feel overwhelming - like so many other things in business. Come take a listen to Megan's experience beta testing Revenue Ripple so you can be better prepared for your next launch!

How Revenue Ripple was created
Beta Testing 101: what it is and why we do it
Kat's reasoning for suggesting more of a coaching setup to test the content
What Megan learned from hosting her beta testing in this format
Setting boundaries in a coaching setting
Understanding the future goal of your product after beta testing
How to collect data while beta testing
How to handle feedback in beta testing, which feedback to make changes on, and more
Why we love the idea of beta testing

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#009: Breaking Down Barriers: The Woman Making Money Aug 30, 2021

This week's episode is one we're really excited about having with you. From the start, we've wanted Talking Small Business to be these real conversations - the ones we have over Voxer every day - just with you involved. This topic of women making money and being the main financial contributor to their households is a bit taboo. But we're two women who have built businesses to the point that we are the financial backbone of our households - and our husbands can work at home with us, too. It's our hope that this episode will leave you feeling empowered and more confident as the woman making money in your business!Inside this episode you'll hear:

Megan's story - why she started her business
Kat's story - why she started her business
The start of the shift into more serious entrepreneurship
How Kat's husband, Matt, left his job and they began the husband-wife team journey
Limiting beliefs and how to overcome them
How to set the tone for conversations as a husband-wife team
Megan's journey to adding her husband, Jeremy, to the business
Why overcommunicating can be a great thing
How to handle the pressure of being the sole provider

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#008: Should You Call Yourself an "Expert"? A Candid Conversation Aug 23, 2021

We've got another great episode for you today all about when to call yourself an expert. There's so many people in our industry that say if you know 10% more than the people around you, then you're an expert and you should absolutely be able to teach them. You'll have to listen to our episode to learn exactly what we think... but we'll give you this little reminder: it all comes down to being honest and genuine with your audience.

Inside this episode you'll hear:

What we think the "10% rule" means
Where calling yourself an expert can get sticky
Why there's nothing wrong with owning that you aren't an expert
The difference between "expert" and "educator"
How to be there for others + help them while staying genuine to your brand
Tips to navigate the transition into the education space
A reminder to focus on being honest and transparent with your audience

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#007: BTS: Creative at Heart Round 10 Aug 16, 2021

We're talking about something near and dear to Kat's heart today as we recap how Creative at Heart Round 10 went this year! If you're not familiar with Kat, she's the founder and host of the Creative at Heart conference each year. Recently, they just had their 10th round of the conference (since 2020 got pushed to 2021!). So, we thought it might be fun to talk about what it's really like hosting a conference, and how things changed because of the pandemic. If you've ever thought about hosting your own conference - or even just attending C@H, take a listen!

We're talking about:

How a more intimate group made this round even better for attendees
The pros & cons of a virtual ticket
Why having a right hand person while planning is essential
Some of our favorite content from this round
The idea of "crockpot success"
Keynotes vs. panel sessions for conferences
How this year's conference size has changed our views on attendee numbers
Why seeing the recaps on social media is so cool

We hope you have fun listening to our stories about this year's round.

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#006: How Niched Do You Need to Go: A Candid Conversation Aug 09, 2021

Last week, we shared our unpopular opinions about whether or not you should only sell one product... and so today, we thought we'd talk about another hot topic in the creative industry: do you need a niche? As business owners, we truly believe the riches are in the niches... but we also get that the journey to finding your niche isn't always super straightforward. And that's okay! Today, we're really breaking down our stories into finding our niches in our businesses - and how even that looks different between us. Come take a listen and let's talk about your niche!

How having a niche isn't always what you think - Kat's story
Why being multi-passionate isn't a bad thing (especially when it comes to this topic!)
How creating a storyline can connect parts of your business without niching down
How to find your storyline
Why finding your niche can help you be more successful faster, but isn't always necessary
Finding your niche in a more traditional way - Megan's story
Why building a value ladder can help your business
A reminder that there's room for all of us in the market

Listen now to hear our candid conversation about finding your niche!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com

#005: Should You Only Sell One Thing? A Candid Conversation Aug 02, 2021

Today, we're sharing a pretty unpopular opinion as we discuss whether or not you should only sell ONE thing to your audience as a small business owner. Although we'll admit this was a tough one to work through (Kat is a self-proclaimed people pleaser who knows this will rock some boats!), we hope it's life-giving to hear that you don't have to sell just one thing in your business - and when it might be good idea after all. We really get candid about our opinions on this one... you might be surprised by what you hear!

We're talking about:

What we mean by only "selling one thing"
How this message conflicts with the idea of diversifying your income (and why it's mind-boggling to us that this is the message presented to business owners!)
How selling only one thing can cost you money
How to strategically diversify your offerings so you don't burn out or waste your time
How selling a high demand product could allow you to only focus on one product
How to make smart buying decisions on the education you consume
How to create a value ladder in your business

Listen now to hear our truly candid conversation about the idea of selling only one offering in your small business!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#004: The Small Biz Pivot: What it Really Looks Like Jul 26, 2021

2020 was the year of pivoting for small business owners. It really turned out to be a buzz word (and a necessity) for our creative industry as life as we knew it shut down completely. While pivoting feels scary, it isn't always a bad thing. Today on Talking Small Business, we're sharing all about what we've done over the last year especially, how we've made pivots in our business and a little more insight as to why you might want or need to pivot your business.

On this episode of the Talking Small Business Podcast, we're chatting what the small business pivot is really like. We dive into:

Why being a multi-passionate creative can be a good thing
Megan's pivoting story
Kat's pivoting story
Why pivoting was necessary in 2020
Why you might need to pivot because of your industry demands
Using what your audience is saying to help you pivot
Pivoting for personal reasons
A reminder that needing to pivot your business does NOT mean you're failing

Listen now and learn more about pivoting in your buisness!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#003: Quarterly Planning for Type B Biz Owners Jul 19, 2021

Every year, we hear thousands of conversations about goal setting - especially as a business owner. But, it's not often that we talk about what planning really looks like, especially when you're a Type B personality - and planning may not come so easily to you.

On this episode of the Talking Small Business Podcast, we're talking about quarterly planning for small business owners - whether you're Type A or Type B - and how you can tackle chasing those goals in a manageable way without burning yourself out. You'll hear:

Why to consider quarterly planning v. yearly planning
What quarterly planning looks like for someone who's Type A, AKA Kat
Why hard deadlines don't always work for specific seasons of life
What quarterly planning looks like for someone who's Type B, AKA Megan
Why you HAVE to review your revenue when planning
How to schedule the steps to achieve your goals + a real life confession about meeting goals
How to avoid organizing for organization's sake

Listen now and learn how to start planning ahead and chasing those goals!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

Talking Small Business: The Trailer Jul 07, 2021

This is Talking Small Business with Kat Schmoyer & Megan Martin: a podcast for creatives who like to keep it real about what it actually takes to grow an online business. We’re competitors turned biz besties who chat daily… and now we’re bringing you into the conversation! Every Monday, we'll bring you candid conversations on topics specific to small business - topics like email marketing, social media, passive income, goal setting and more! We aim to provide actionable, heartfelt biz strategy, peppered with real-day-in-the-life discussions. We're open up our biz playbook and bringing YOU into the conversation, too. You in? Good. Press play & let's chat!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#002: How to Market Your Biz in 2021 Jul 01, 2021

It's no secret that social media is changing. And after working through many waves of changes online (remember when Instagram feeds were all about posting 3x a day with the prettiest photo in the world? Yeah, we do too), we've learned a few things about how to focus on what matters most as a small business owner who has to market online.

On this episode of the Talking Small Business Podcast, we're chatting about how to market your business in 2021. We dive into:

How the social media landscape is changing for business owners
A reminder to create content that’s useful to your clients – not just your aesthetic
How you can use social media to share your message without worrying about it being perfect
Why creating high quality content off social media still matters
The importance of an email list
Why taking a break from social media for a hot minute may not be the worst thing in the world

Listen now and learn where you should think about putting your energy as a small business owner trying to reach new customers online!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

#001: Best Friends with the Competition, Our Story Jul 01, 2021

Kat and Megan have been business besties for over 5 years. After talking on Instagram and then meeting face-to-face at a conference for creatives, they quickly realized that there was something special about the friendship they were forming. Now, Kat and Megan talk (almost) every day (and their husbands laugh about it)! Their vox thread is filled with all things business, motherhood, and so much more!

On this first episode of the Talking Small Business Podcast, they're diving into what it means to be best friends with the competition and how that's impacted their relationship. They talk about:

what it's been like having tough conversations together
how they navigate their relationship when they work together
what they do when they offer similar things to their customers (AKA are each other competition)
how they've learned to focus on what they each bring to the table
and MORE!

Listen now and learn how you and your biz bestie can continue to encourage each other and serve your clients well ... without sacrificing your friendship!

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Connect with Kat & Megan: https://talkingsmallbusinesspodcast.com/

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