Office Talk With Annette Stepanian

If you operate a business with any types of programs, products, courses and other offerings, you may have considered running some sort of affiliate program to recruit others to help share the news. But before you starting recruiting affiliates, there are a few things to consider before paying referrals to affiliates in exchange for sales those people bring you. In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, I’ll walk you through a few of the best practices to consider when implementing an affiliate program for your business.       To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any info

If you’re a blogger, or content creator in the online space, at some point you’ve probably thought about how to monetize your content. You might be thinking of getting sponsors or finding advertisers to get those Benjamins rolling in while while you focus on creating epic blog posts and content. Or maybe you’ve wondered: “Should I focus on building a large following?” “Or forget the numbers and make reader engagement my number one priority?” “When is the right time to approach a sponsor?” In this episode, my guest is going to help us answer some of these questions!   Bruno Bornsztein is the founder of Curbly, a website he created to explore the creative side of home decor and foster a community of people who love where they live. Bruno started Curbly back in 2006, so he’s seen it all when it comes to online trends and specifically, where the world of sponsorship is headed.  To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk

On this episode of Office Talk, I’m answering a question I receive quite a lot when I speak to event and wedding planners.  You see, since event planners are often busy executing and designing the event, there isn’t something tangible left for them to include in their portfolio. That’s why they rely on photographs to help showcase their work and promote their business and services to others. So the question becomes…. Is there a way for wedding and event planners to legally require clients to contractually agree to provide them with access to professional images after the wedding? If so, how do they go about asking for permission? I’m sharing the answer in this week’s Legal Quickie episode!    To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of

Do you have total website shame? Do you feel like your website or your brand is missing a little somethin’ somethin’? Don’t worry, you’re not alone and today’s Office Talk podcast guest, - Irene Hardy, the owner and creative director of Magnoliahouse Creative -  is sharing some of her designer secrets to help you uplevel your brand. In this episode, she reveals the crucial things that you need to think about when developing your brand identity. Developing a brand is more than just picking a logo. Ultimately, it’s how you make people feel. I also asked Irene to put my website to the test and perform a live brand audit of my website.  (Yikes!) Tune in and learn from my mistakes as she points out areas where I’m doing things right and where I can improve. Brands aren’t reserved for just large corporate companies. Even if you’re a solopreneur or a small shop, you’ve got a brand. So listen in on this episode to learn Irene’s best tips for how to create a brand that lasts. To learn more and get the show notes, visi

When you get a glowing review from a customer, don’t you just want to shout it from the rooftops? Of course you do! As a business owner, you may want to use such reviews and testimonials to help promote and market your products and services. It’s no wonder that you’d want to use these testimonials in your marketing. According to one survey: “[Online customer] reviews are very impactful. The vast majority of participants who have seen reviews claimed that that information did impact their buying decisions. This was true of both positive reviews (90%) as well as negative reviews (86%).” Well - surprise, surprise - there are rules about the right way to use testimonials in your marketing. And in this episode of Office Talk, I’m breaking down what you need to know before you do!   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create

As you’ve and heard (or know from experience!) getting healthy and in shape can be a tough thing to do. How can someone go about doing this while juggling family, a full-time job and launching an online business at the same time? Our guest in this episode of the Office Talk podcast, knows all about the struggles that a working mother can face when it comes to balancing life, business, and her health. Nagina Abdullah joins us to share her own journey in a demanding role as a marketing consulting, which required frequent travel, and how she leveraged her own weightloss journey into an online business - MasalaBody.com. She’s now developed her brand to a point where she is able to impact the lives of hundreds of women by launching her signature training, Spice Yourself Skinny multiple times a year. Nagina not only reveals how you can lose pounds and feel great while enjoying the process, but shares helpful tips about building a brand (as quickly as possible) so that you have an audience that’s ready to purchase y

Are you a blogger who receives free products or payment in exchange to share a review about that product on let’s say your Instagram account or your blog?   Or maybe you’re an online business owner and you participate in affiliate programs where you promote another company’s products and in exchange you receive a commission for each sale that you refer. If you’re getting paid to create content promoting another company’s products or services, then today’s Office Talk podcast episode is for you. In it, I’m sharing four things the FTC wants you to know before you endorse another company’s product or service. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE Who needs to make disclosures and why When to make disclosures What your disclosures should say How to make effective disclosures when you’re using social media, your website or video to endorse a company’s products or services And more…       To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educationa

Want to get people talking about your business? Have you considered PR as part of your business strategy? If you’re anything like me, trying to get some good PR can sound a bit overwhelming. We’re so busy doing #allthethings that we really can’t handle pitching our story to media outlets on top of all the marketing we’re already doing to grow our audience. And even if we could find the time, who even knows where to start? Meghan Ely does, thankfully. Meghan, owner of OFD Consulting, very generously shared her PR expertise with us in this episode of Office Talk. Meghan explains how PR can not only get you in front of the target audience, but provide you with valuable third party credibility as an expert in your field. No matter where you are in your business (and budget!), Meghan’s tips will show you how to get PR opportunities and how to make the most out of them to grow your audience and your business.

When was the last time you took a red pen to your contracts to spot formatting mistakes? Ummmmm….. probably never. Well, believe it or not, minor errors in formatting can make a BIG impact on the way your contracts are interpreted. In this Legal Quickie episode, I’m sharing three common formatting mistakes you’re probably making with your contracts. The good news is they are super easy to fix. So grab a copy of your contract (or if you don’t have one, check out the templates offered on the website), get your red pen, and have a listen to this episode. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented  nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with A

With all the different things we have to think of and the tasks we have to juggle as entrepreneurs, it’s easy to classify copy as “less important” or “low priority.” Why are the words you use on your website, in your emails, and on your social media so important to your business? In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, copywriter Sarah Grear shares explains how your copy can translate to actual sales and affect your bottom line. If that doesn’t catch your interest, I don’t know what will! Sarah shares her top tips on how to tell your unique story in a way that builds your brand and engages your target audience in order to amplify your sales. Plus, she had some really great resources that I never knew existed. If you’re struggling with writing your own copy or looking to hire a copywriter for your business, you’ll definitely want to listen to this podcast before you get started.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk

To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented  nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Are you gearing up to launch a new product or service?  Anne Samoilov, creator of Fearless Launching, shared so many amazing tips for a successful (and yet simple!) launch in this episode of Office Talk. In fact, even if you have no plans to launch anything right now, you still have to give this interview a listen. Anne’s tips are spot-on for any business owner to improve their ability to make decisions, plan, and execute effectively—in any area of their business, not just when it comes to launch time. It’s like we’re always launching, if you think about it. Every one of us has something we’re looking to get out into the world. Anne talks about how you can begin thinking with a launch mentality, not just for a successful launch, but also for a successful business. The best part? Anne likes to keep things simple, so all of her tips are attainable and will save you so much time—and maybe even your sanity! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk

I was curious to know what you guys are struggling with in your business. So I recently got on the phone (yeah - the actual phone… remember that?) and spoke to dozens of folks to find out the answer to this question.  In this week’s podcast episode, I’m having a heart-to-heart with you and sharing some of my observations from those conversations including the three things that are holding us back in business. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented  nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from

There’s an old story about the iconic artist Pablo Picasso that goes something like this…   Picasso was sitting in a Paris café when an admirer approached and asked if he would do a quick sketch on a paper napkin. Picasso politely agreed, swiftly executed the work, and handed back the napkin — but not before asking for a rather significant amount of money. The admirer was shocked: “How can you ask for so much? It took you a minute to draw this!” “No”, Picasso replied, “It took me 40 years”   This struck such a chord with me because I meet a lot of entrepreneurs (me included) who have trouble valuing their work and time. How about you? Do you experience this in your business?   Do you wonder if you’re asking for too much—or not enough—when it comes to pricing?   Do you have a financial plan for your business, or are you getting caught up in the day-to-day of serving your clients or customers, to find out that all that effort is paying you peanuts?   In this episode, Kristin Kaplan explains why pricing and plan

I’ve heard it all. Lawyers are intimidating. They’re so unrelatable. They don’t understand me or my business. And they’re so darn expensive. These are the common complaints I hear from folks about working with a lawyer. And let’s not forget all the bad lawyer jokes too…. Well, I’m spilling the beans. In this episode, I’m sharing what you need to know before you hire a lawyer - things like fee structures, costs, questions you need to ask - as well as breaking down the law into the five topic areas you need to be thinking about as you start and grow your business. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented  nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relatio

Have you started to build an email list for your business?   We all know email lists are important—but once you have one in the works, what do you actually do with it? How can you leverage the subscribers you have through opt-ins or lead magnets and convert them into actual business?   Enter Lauren Pawell, founder of Bixa Media. In this Office Talk episode, Lauren discusses how email marketing can quickly become your highest-netting channel, even more so than social media. Lauren shares some simple tips you can apply at any point in your business to boost your list and translate those leads into clients.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/33

Do your eyes glaze over when you read about insurance policies? Of course they do! I haven’t met anyone for whom that’s not the case. Even Nikki Luby, who works in commercial insurance at Excelsure, admits that insurance isn’t the most interesting of subjects. It’s more a necessary evil. In this legal quickie episode, Nikki breaks down the basics of insurance and what you really need to help you cover your booty—without putting you to sleep with all the insurance jargon! WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE The two main insurances that every business needs What kind of insurance you need if you work from home How to save money on insurance policies What to look for in choosing an insurance provider How to determine the insurance limit you need to protect yourself Catch the full show note at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/23 Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship

What if I told you that you could get more potential clients and customers coming to your website to check out your services and products...with minimal effort?     You’d be all ears, right?   Well, here’s one way: Use Pinterest effectively.   After hearing repeatedly that her clients and customers had found her on Pinterest even though she was spending way more time on Instagram, Elle Drouin, creator of Wonderfelle Media, realized the value of Pinterest and became very strategic about how to leverage the platform to grow her business. In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, Elle shares her best Pinterest tips to drive traffic and gain quality leads that translate into real business. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE How to get noticed on Pinterest and gain followers All the essential elements of a pinnable pin and how to draw in leads with your Pinterest graphics Elle’s favorite tools for scheduling and managing her Pinterest account and why How to use group boards to build a community strategically on

Ever wonder if privacy policies, terms of service, or trademarks really matter?   Does the FTC really care about small businesses just starting out?   With cyber law constantly changing and trying to catch up to advances in technology, it can be really intimidating to make sure you’re complying, especially for new business owners.   In this Legal (Not-So) Quickie episode with Ryan Morrison, deemed “The Video Game Attorney,” we’re helping you sift through what is really important to protect our business right  from the start. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE What to do when you’re strapped for cash and can’t afford legal advice or a trademark The biggest mistake social media influencers make when working with companies Are privacy policies and terms of service really necessary? At what point should you consider filing for a trademark? What to do when you own a domain and someone begins using your brand name under a similar domain What an office action is and what should you do about it   To learn more and g

I was so glad to reconnect with an old friend for this episode of Office Talk, Yvette Bowlin, also known as the Declutterist®. Yvette exudes such a calm and focused energy that I think as entrepreneurs we’re all struggling to find. We’re often so busy doing, or we’re overanalyzing and in our heads. Yvette shares how her trip backpacking through Brazil in college taught her the importance of not only decluttering her possessions, but also her thoughts. Upon returning, she was inspired to maintain that life of simplicity and to help others find it as well. She began her business as the Declutterist®, guiding clients on their path towards clarity, freedom, and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/29