The SmallBizChat with Melinda Emerson

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Sonia Booker to delve into the world of real estate investing. Sonia shares her background and journey into real estate, offering key advice for new investors looking to enter the market. The discussion covers various investment strategies and essential financial habits that are crucial for success in real estate.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson introduces Keenan Fisher, who shares insights into his company's unique business model and franchising journey. The discussion covers Tommy Gun's expansion strategy, including market testing and the importance of a strong support network. Keenan delves into the legal aspects and financing of franchising, providing valuable information for those considering this business path. The conversation also highlights franchise development, recruitment processes, and the critical support offered to franchisees, offering a comprehensive look at what it takes to succeed in the franchising world.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson introduces guest expert Jack Wilson, who shares his extensive knowledge on acquiring existing businesses. The discussion covers key factors and growth potential when purchasing a business, including the types of businesses that are ideal for acquisition and various financing options. Jack provides insights into identifying red flags and strategies for employee retention during a business transition.

To kick off the new year, Melinda Emerson breaks down the top 10 things to incorporate into your business practice this year to stay ahead of the competition, from AI to Customer Experience to Your website. The discussion covers leveraging AI for business automation, strengthening cybersecurity, and building a resilient supply chain.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson introduces the "Hit it and Quit It" panel discussion, where experts share quick insights and actionable advice for small business owners.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson introduces guest Sharon Maker, an expert in supplier diversity. Sharon shares insights from her career path, emphasizing the importance of positioning small businesses for opportunities with large companies. The discussion highlights major certifying bodies crucial for small businesses seeking to enhance their marketability and competitiveness.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson welcomes Marsha Layton Turner to discuss the world of ghostwriting and its significance for business leaders. Marsha shares her journey into ghostwriting, highlighting the benefits of writing a book to enhance credibility and authority in business. The conversation explores the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing, offering insights into the costs and profitability of each approach. Marsha provides valuable advice on hiring a ghostwriter and shares the best business advice she has received. The episode concludes with closing remarks and a teaser for the next episode.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Dr. Verneka Murphy to explore the concept of becoming your own bank through premium finance. The discussion begins with an overview of how life insurance plays a crucial role in this financial strategy. Dr. Murphy delves into the potential risks and impacts of premium financing on estate planning, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of this approach. She also offers guidance on how to get started with premium financing, sharing insights and best practices.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson delves into the challenges posed by current economic pressures and how small business owners can adapt. The discussion covers the importance of reassessing revenue models and the potential of leveraging AI in business operations. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a resilient mindset and setting clear business goals. The conversation shifts to marketing priorities and effective networking strategies, alongside enhancing customer experience and embracing innovation. The episode concludes with reflections on faith and gratitude, offering a holistic perspective on navigating the business landscape.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson welcomes back guests Joanne Eriaku, Yvonne E.L. Silver, and Dr. Robert A. Needham, JD, for an engaging discussion on tried-and-true marketing strategies and impactful business literature. The conversation kicks off with each guest sharing their favorite old school marketing tips, followed by a lively discussion on the best business books they've encountered.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Dr. Robert Needham to explore overcoming economic slavery and fear in entrepreneurship. They discuss the advantages and downsides of franchising and highlight the importance of maintaining a high gross margin in business. Dr. Needham shares his best business advice, providing listeners with valuable insights for navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Yvonne E.L. Silver, who shares her expertise on sales strategies tailored for women entrepreneurs. They discuss the art of influence in sales and effective methods for approaching potential sales targets. Yvonne highlights common sales mistakes and provides valuable advice for small business owners to overcome them.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson is joined by Joanne Eriaku, who brings her expertise in AI to the discussion. They explore common misconceptions about AI and its practical applications for small businesses. Joanne outlines steps for implementing AI effectively while emphasizing the importance of data security. The conversation also delves into the challenges, risks, and potential future impacts of AI on small business operations.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson introduces guests Leticia Crippen and Reid Holmes and sets the stage for a lively discussion on favorite podcasts and business apps, old school marketing tips, and best business book recommendations.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson welcomes guest Reid Holmes, who shares his journey and search for impact in small businesses. They delve into the concept of appreciated branding, discussing its key components and how to implement it effectively across products and services.

In this episode, Melinda welcomes Leticia Crippen, who shares her journey in media and insights on video production. They discuss key components for getting started, including planning, scripting, and determining video style. Leticia covers essential tools and software to make videos stand out. The episode includes a discussion on using ChatGPT and the pros and cons of short-form vs. long-form content. Leticia also offers storytelling tips and advice for beginners in video content creation.

In this episode, Melinda Emerson shares her personal story about dealing with home disasters, including experiences with insurance, Servpro, and moving her office. Melinda recounts a gas leak incident, highlighting a neighbor's alert and the troubleshooting process. She reflects on the gas leak source and other recent incidents and their impact on her perspectives. The episode also focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs and offers safety tips for homeowners and thoughts on staying motivated through adversity.

Melinda introduces guests Elaine Pofeldt, Maggie Lord and Valdez Lasartemay. The guests share their favorite podcasts, business tools, marketing tips, book recommendations providing practical advice for small business owners.

Melinda Emerson introduces the episode and welcomes guest Valdez Lasartemay. Valdez shares his passion for sales and fundamental techniques that drive success. They discuss the importance of building relationships and personal branding in sales. The conversation covers strategies for handling objections and tools for effective sales engagement. Valdez also explains how to leverage social media and key metrics for measuring sales performance. He concludes with his best business advice, followed by closing remarks.

In this episode, Maggie Lord shares her entrepreneurial journey and insights into exit strategies, focusing on planning and financial preparation for selling a business. She and Melinda discuss how to identify potential buyers and ensure a fair valuation, and Maggie covers the importance of confidentiality and outlines the timeline of the sales process.