Advertise on podcast: Small Business Quick WINS w/ Jay Schwedelson l Presented By Thryv

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson tackles a popular misconception about emails landing in the promotions tab. He explains why it's not the crisis many believe it to be, and shares practical advice for accurately assessing—and improving—your email performance. =================================== Best Moments: (01:00) Debunking the myth about promotions tab issues (01:37) Why less than 30% of Gmail users have tabs enabled (02:13) The daily check habits of 50% of users with enabled tabs (02:56) Apple’s new email categorization and its limited effect (04:28) Determining if you actually have an email performance problem (05:29) Segmenting engaged users for deeper insights (06:21) Email marketing success hinges on many small factors working together =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson offers practical AI hacks that small businesses can use right away—without spending a dime. From enhancing your FAQ sections for better AI-driven search results to leveraging ChatGPT for marketing analyses, these easy-to-implement tricks will help you stay ahead of the curve. =================================== Best Moments: (01:00) Introduction to AI tricks for small businesses (01:25) The importance of FAQ sections on websites for AI search tools (03:30) Using ChatGPT to analyze marketing materials (06:01) Utilizing ChatGPT to create comparative tables for competitor analysis =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson welcomes back Navah Hopkins, an expert in digital marketing and PPC, to discuss the intricacies of social media algorithms, specifically on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram. They cover effective strategies for improving content visibility, increasing engagement, and growing followers. =================================== Best Moments: (02:31) Understanding Meta's algorithm and content circulation (03:13) Leveraging groups for better content reach (05:42) The importance of early engagement for content visibility (06:36) Building a network for content support (08:36) Guiding audience behavior through clear call-to-actions (09:42) Creating authentic and engaging content (12:43) Optimal timing for posting content (14:47) Strategies for increasing followers =================================== Guest Bio: Navah Hopkins is an evangelist for Optmyzr and an internationally recognized speaker and instructor. Known for her expertise in PPC advertising, Navah is also passionate about rescue dogs, metal music, and gaming. She contributes regularly to industry publications and participates in marketing-focused communities on Slack and Discord. =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson interviews Navah Hopkins, an expert in search ads and pay-per-click marketing. They dive deep into PPC strategies, how to navigate Google Ads, and what small businesses need to do to succeed in digital marketing. =================================== Best Moments: (01:03) Introduction to pay-per-click and search ads (04:50) What not to do when researching your own ads (06:02) Determining goals for PPC campaigns (06:45) Local service ads for customer acquisition (07:19) Dealing with competitors bidding on your brand terms (08:37) Using auction insights reports in Google Ads (09:42) SEO vs. paid ads: which is more productive? (12:02) Choosing between SEO and PPC based on business operations (13:56) Brief discussion on metal music genres =================================== Guest Bio: Navah Hopkins is a PPC expert and evangelist for Optmyzr. She’s an internationally recognized speaker and instructor with extensive experience in SEO and paid search marketing. A passionate metal music enthusiast and gamer, Navah contributes to major publications like Search Engine Journal and Search Engine Land. She's also an active member of professional communities like Women in Tech SEO and the Paid Search Association. =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson chats with Paige Graham, founder of Sweet as Choice Bakery, about turning a passion for baking into a successful business. Paige shares her journey, insights on adapting to customer feedback, and tips for managing and growing a bakery. Best Moments: (01:50) Introduction to Sweet as Choice Bakery and its focus on classic New Zealand baking (02:45) Paige’s journey from passion to business ownership (04:06) Adapting business strategies based on customer feedback (05:13) Importance of customer reviews and feedback for product improvement (06:55) Marketing strategies, including social media and email collection (08:11) Time management and using Thryv for business efficiency (10:27) Future plans for growth and expansion (11:56) Valentine’s Day celebrations in New Zealand (13:07) Most popular bakery item: Melting Moments =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson is joined by Clint Fontanella, a content expert at Thryv, to explore how small businesses can leverage both traditional and "fake" holidays to boost engagement and stand out. They discuss creative ways to tie in holidays—like Valentine's Day and March Madness—into marketing campaigns, even for industries that don’t have an obvious connection. =================================== Best Moments: (01:00) Introduction to leveraging holidays in marketing (02:17) Using Valentine's Day as an example for non-related businesses (04:13) Exploring "fake holidays" and their marketing potential (05:42) The importance of treating customers as human beings in marketing (07:09) Utilizing March Madness in marketing strategies (08:05) Using ChatGPT to find relevant holidays for marketing campaigns =================================== Guest Bio: Clint Fontanella is a content expert and blog manager at Thryv, where he specializes in creating valuable content for small business owners. He shares actionable marketing strategies on Thryv's blog (thryv.com/blog), offering insights on seasonal campaigns, content marketing, and more. =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson explains why the first email you send to a new customer or lead is the most important—and how it can make or break future communication success. He shares practical strategies to maximize engagement, improve deliverability, and create long-term customer relationships. =================================== Best Moments: (01:15) The importance of timing in sending the first email after receiving customer info (02:58) The impact of response time on customer engagement and potential revenue (03:29) Why standard "thank you" autoresponders are ineffective (04:04) How the first email interaction affects future email deliverability (05:05) Crafting effective subject lines to encourage email opens (05:38) The importance of providing value in the email content (06:00) Why businesses should avoid immediate sales offers in follow-up emails (06:18) The need for value-driven content in the first 3-4 emails (07:35) The significance of being intentional about the first few emails sent =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson interviews Lisa Landsman, who handles global business development for Google. They discuss the power of Google reviews, the importance of a fully optimized Google Business Profile, and clear up common myths about Google’s review practices. =================================== Best Moments: (01:05) Introduction to the topic of Google reviews and Google Business Profiles (02:55) How to handle bad reviews and the importance of responding to all reviews (04:26) Process for flagging reviews that violate Google's policies (05:50) Dispelling myths about paying to remove negative reviews (06:29) Clarification on whether paying for Google Ads affects review removal (07:20) Discussion on whether negative reviews impact SEO (08:36) The importance of thoroughly completing your Google Business Profile (10:36) Adding social media links to your Google Business Profile (11:48) Announcement of an upcoming webinar on Google Business Profiles =================================== Guest Bio: Lisa Landsman handles global business development for Google, specializing in Google Business Profiles. With a wealth of experience, she helps businesses optimize their online presence and leverage Google’s tools to enhance visibility and connect with customers effectively. =================================== 📅 Upcoming Webinar: Google Business Profile: Be Ready When Customers Search Date: Wed. Feb 19th Time: 1:00 pm ET Speaker: Lisa Landsman, Global Business Development, Google Session Overview: More than 2 billion people connect with small businesses on Google every month. That means your Google Business Profile is a cornerstone of your online presence. If it’s missing information – or missing altogether – customers are likely to go to the competitors that are easier to find online. But the right info can make potential clients say “heck yeah” to doing business with you -- and Google’s own Lisa Landsman is diving deep into everything you need to know about setting up your GBP, making it shine, and getting customers to act, before and after the sale. You’ll Learn: How users search for businesses and what they’re looking for, so you can build a profile that puts your best digital storefront forward.How to stay relevant by showcasing what matters to potential clients.Top tactics to get customers to take action – from booking an appointment to leaving a review.And more! Register Now for the Webinar =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson welcomes Christina Garnett, Chief Customer and Communications Officer at neuemotion, to discuss the vital role of customer relationships for small businesses. They explore how to foster meaningful connections, avoid common pitfalls, and scale without losing the personal touch. =================================== Best Moments: (01:26) Introduction to the role of a Chief Customer Officer (03:16) Who typically acts as the Chief Customer Officer in small businesses (04:58) Common pitfalls small businesses face when neglecting customer relationships (10:45) The importance of being aware of customer feedback and acting on it (13:07) Maintaining deep customer connections while scaling a small business (15:45) Christina Garnett's upcoming book on customer-brand relationships =================================== Guest Bio: Christina Garnett is the Chief Customer and Communications Officer at neuemotion and a fractional Chief Customer and Communications Officer for various brands. With a background in teaching and advocacy, Christina is dedicated to helping businesses make their customers feel seen, heard, and appreciated. She is the author of an upcoming book on building strong customer-brand relationships. =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson welcomes back Stephanie Love, content lead at Thryv, to share strategies for keeping New Year’s resolutions and business goals on track. They explore practical frameworks and accountability techniques to help small business owners succeed. =================================== Best Moments: (01:14) Setting attainable business goals for the new year (02:18) Using the SMART goal framework (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) (03:25) Template for creating SMART goals (04:35) Dedicating daily time to focus on specific goals (05:57) Setting base goals and reach goals (07:04) Holding employees accountable for goals (08:34) Creating "anti-resolutions" for businesses =================================== Guest Bio: Stephanie Love is a content lead at Thryv, passionate about helping small business owners set and achieve realistic goals. She is also an accomplished runner, having recently completed a marathon, which inspires her approach to goal-setting and persistence. =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins presented by Thryv, host Jay Schwedelson welcomes Amanda Zantal-Wiener to discuss the transformative power of brand storytelling for small businesses. They explore practical ways to create meaningful connections with customers through engaging narratives. =================================== Best Moments: (01:28) Introduction to the importance of storytelling for small businesses (02:54) Explanation of the brand story framework (04:21) Simple example of storytelling for a plumbing company (05:22) Practical approach to leveraging customer reviews for storytelling (07:38) Using customer experiences to create engaging social media content (08:56) The "avoid failure" aspect of brand storytelling (09:56) Emphasizing the customer as the main character in brand stories =================================== Guest Bio: Amanda Zantal-Wiener is the content lead at Thryv and a former content creator at HubSpot. With her background in content creation for small businesses, Amanda brings valuable insights into brand storytelling and its practical applications for small business owners. =================================== Kickstart Growth in 2025 with 25% Off Marketing Center plans 🚀 thryv.com/wins

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson interviews Daniel Murray, a social media marketing expert and creator of the Marketing Millennials podcast and social media channels. =================================== Best Moments: (01:04) Introduction of Daniel Murray and his social media success (03:51) Prioritizing social media over podcasts or newsletters for small businesses (04:56) Choosing the right social media platform based on audience (06:17) Getting started with social media content creation for small businesses (09:39) Strategies for growing followers and engagement on social media (12:59) Using social media as a search engine and creating shareable content (14:43) Leveraging influencers and existing channels to grow social media presence (17:27) Tips for creating engaging content and being consistent on social media =================================== Guest Bio: Daniel Murray is a social media marketing expert and the creator of the Marketing Millennials podcast and social media channels. With over a million followers on LinkedIn and 150,000 followers on Instagram, Daniel has successfully built a large audience through social media. He shares his expertise on creating engaging content, growing a following, and leveraging social media for business growth. =================================== Special Offer Get Your First Month of Thryv on Us!

In this engaging episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson and guest Stephanie Love, a content team leader at Thryv, delve into the practical use of AI tools like ChatGPT for small businesses. They explore how small businesses can use AI as a collaborative tool, improve AI interactions, and leverage AI for content enhancement and customer insights. =================================== Key Moments: (01:42) Strategies for collaborating with AI effectively. (03:52) Techniques for eliciting better responses from AI. (04:40) The importance of using clear, jargon-free language with AI. (06:21) Tips for using ChatGPT to review and improve content. (08:09) How to analyze customer reviews using AI. (09:52) Practical applications of AI in personal tasks like trip planning. (11:18) Discussion on the social interaction with AI and its potential impacts. =================================== Guest Bio: Stephanie Love is a dynamic leader in the content team at Thryv, with a deep understanding of how AI can transform small business operations. With her extensive experience in digital content and AI applications, Stephanie offers valuable insights into effectively integrating AI tools to streamline processes and enhance customer engagement. =================================== Special Offer Get Your First Month of Thryv on Us!

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson welcomes back guest Stephanie Love to discuss ideas for small businesses heading into the new year. They share practical strategies for capitalizing on early January opportunities, implementing simple loyalty programs, and emphasizing the importance of thanking existing customers. The episode wraps up with a fun debate on what truly constitutes a holiday movie. =================================== Best Moments: (01:30) Ideas for small businesses heading into the new year (02:56) Expectations for business efforts in early January (04:04) Implementing simple loyalty programs (05:39) The importance of thanking existing customers (06:19) Debate on whether various movies are considered holiday films =================================== Guest Bio: Stephanie Love is a seasoned marketing professional with extensive experience in helping small businesses grow and thrive. She specializes in developing customer loyalty programs and crafting strategies that enhance customer engagement. Stephanie is passionate about empowering small business owners with practical tools and insights to drive success in an ever-changing market landscape. =================================== Special Offer Get Your First Month of Thryv on Us!

In this episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson interviews Clint Fontanella, an experienced blogger who manages blogs for Thryv and previously for HubSpot. They discuss the importance of blogging for small businesses and provide practical tips for getting started. =================================== Best Moments: (01:01) Introduction to blogging and its importance for small businesses (02:36) The value and purpose of having a blog for small business owners (03:45) Technical benefits of blogging, including SEO advantages (04:37) The risks of using AI-generated content for blogs (05:16) The importance of keeping blog content up-to-date (06:59) How to start a blog and determine its goals (07:47) Tools for keyword research and blog optimization (08:20) Strategies for promoting blog content (09:27) Clint's approach to reading and researching blogs (10:18) Information on Clint's personal and professional blogs =================================== Guest Bio: Clint Fontanella is an experienced blogger who currently manages blogs for Thryv and previously worked at HubSpot. He has extensive knowledge in content creation, SEO optimization, and blog management. Clint also maintains a personal blog called Pedaling for Pups, which he uses to raise money for animal shelters in war-torn areas. His passion for blogging extends beyond his professional life, as he even documented his bike-packing journey from Canada to Mexico through his personal blog. =================================== Special Offer Get Your First Month of Thryv on Us!